Characterization of resistance to lettuce mosaic virus in Lactuca sativa

Lettuce mosaic virus (LMV) is an economically important pathogen with worldwide distribution. LMV infection in L. sativa can cause significant yield losses. Resistance to LMV in L. sativa is conferred by the recessive gene mo. We attempted to position the mo gene on the L. sativa map. The ultimate goal is a better understanding of plant-virus interactions. To do so, Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were screened in the near isogenic lines (NILs) Vanguard and Vanguard 75. These NILs differ in the presence of the mo gene in Vanguard 75. Polymorphic markers were screened for linkage to mo in two F$ sb2$ populations segregating for resistance to LMV. The F$ sb2$ populations used were derived from 2 crosses, the first one between the L. sativa cultivars Dwarf 2 (resistant to LMV via the presence of mo) and Saffier and the second one between two breeding lines 87-25M-1 (momo) and 87-1090M-1 (MoMo). In order to develop a highly stringent antibody detection system to phenotype plants infected with LMV, a plasmid construct was developed which overproduces LMV coat protein. This construct will be used in the future to produce enough recombinant LMV coat protein for antibody production. To further characterize mo, a selection of cultivars resistant and susceptible to LMV according to the literature were subjected to various temperature changes to determine the environmental influences on virus movement