The University of Sheffield
Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Plant Biochemistry / Biotechnology


Dr G S Warren
blank space The mechanisms by which certain plants are naturally resistant to viruses are still poorly understood. This lack of knowledge is impeding the development of crop plant varieties with enhanced resistance to these serious pathogens. Our approach to the study of plant resistance to viruses has been to exploit the properties of cultured plant cells. Cell cultures remain relatively under-utilised as experimental systems in plant pathology despite some distinct advantages for such investigations, for example controllable division rates, ease of access to cells of exogenous substances, and the ability to select for mutant cell lines showing desirable properties. Using cultured cell systems, we have identified substances excreted from cells that inhibit the accumulation of the coat protein of tobacco mosaic virus in tobacco. Whether such inhibitors have a function in resistance to viruses in nature is as yet unknown. We have also demonstrated that there is an inverse correlation between the division rate of cells and the quantity of virus contained therein. We feel that this might be an expression of the commonly observed 'meristem resistance' and as such might be a valuable system for the study of this poorly understood phenomenon.

 

Selected Publications

Infection of suspension-cultured cells of carrot with tobacco mosaic virus. Warren, G.S. and Hill, S.J.L. (1989). Physiol. Molec. Plant Pathol. 35, 287-292.
The use of plant cell cultures for studying virus resistance, and enhancing the production of virus-resistant and virus-free plants. Warren, G.S., P. Thomas, M-T. Herrera, S.J.L. Hill and R. Terry. (1992). J. Biotechnol. 22, 171-200.
Inhibition by conditioned growth medium of accumulation of viral antigen in plant suspension cultures inoculated with TMV. M-T. Herrera and G.S.Warren. (1992). Plant Science 82, 243-249.
Relationship between cell growth and antigen content of cultures of Nicotiana tabacum inoculated with tobacco mosaic virus. P.Thomas and G.S.Warren. (1994) J. Experimental Botany 45, 987-994.
Studies on an inhibitor of TMV viral antigen accumulation released by cultured cells of N.tabacum. T.Takahashi and G.S.Warren (1994). Plant Science 100, 83-96.