Figure 2.

Competition analysis between alfalfa mosaic virus constructs expressing the MPs of CiLV-C and CiLV-C2 in transgenic N. tabacum plants. Co-inoculation of N. tabacum P12 plants with an infectious mixture containing equivalent amounts of AMV RNA 3 derivatives transcripts carrying the MP genes of the CiLV-C and CiLV-C2. These AMV RNA 3 derivative constructs are the same as shown in Figure 1A (pMP-CiLV-C^WT:A44/CP and pMP-CiLV-C2^WT:A44/CP). Schematic representation of three serial passages at 15 day intervals using extracts of the systemic leaves as inoculum is presented. The prevalent virus for each passage was determined by RT-PCR analysis using specific primers for each MP gene. The presence or absence of the correspondent MP DNA band in agarose gel electrophoresis is shown through RT-PCR analysis of two plants for each viral passage. The assay was repeated three times. (-) corresponds to a healthy plant. M = GeneRuler 1 kb DNA ladder marker. The marker band sizes of 1.5 kbp and 850 bp are indicated.