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Updated: May 14, 2026
06:34
Virus-induced Gene Silencing (VIGS) in Nicotiana benthamiana and Tomato
Published on: June 10, 2009
Analysis of developmental control genes using virus-induced gene silencing
Koen Geuten1, Tom Viaene, Dries Vekemans
1Laboratory of Plant Systematics, Institute of Botany and Microbiology, Leuven, Belgium.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|February 7, 2013
Summary
Studying gene function across species is hard. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is an adaptable method for silencing developmental genes in plants like Nicotiana benthamiana and Papaver somniferum.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary developmental biology
- Plant genetics
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Assessing developmental control gene function across diverse species presents a significant challenge.
- Understanding gene function is crucial for studying evolutionary processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present reliable virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) protocols for assessing developmental control gene function.
- To demonstrate the adaptability of VIGS in core and basal eudicot species.
Main Methods:
- Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) was employed to target developmental control genes.
- Protocols were developed and validated for Nicotiana benthamiana and Papaver somniferum.
Main Results:
- VIGS proved to be an efficient and adaptable method for gene silencing in the studied species.
- Successful silencing of developmental control genes was achieved.
Conclusions:
- VIGS is a powerful tool for functional analysis of developmental genes in a wide range of angiosperms.
- The described protocols facilitate comparative evolutionary studies of gene function.
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