Durable Resistance to PVY and PLRV in Transgenic Potato Under Greenhouse and Field Conditions

Potato virus Y (PVY) and potato leafroll virus (PLRV) are the most damaging viruses for potato production worldwide. Mixed infections not only result in additive detrimental ef-fects on plant growth and tuber yield but also complicate the development of durable and broad-spectrum viral resistance. Heterologous protection against PVY can be achieved through the expression of the CP protein of lettuce mosaic virus (CPLMV) conferring re-sistance via a capsid protein-mediated mechanism. On the other hand, we have previ-ously demonstrated that transgenic lines expressing the PLRV ORF2 (RepPLRV) exhibit resistance to different PLRV isolates. In this study, potato transgenic lines of cv. Kennebec expressing CPLMV and RepPLRV were developed to confer dual virus resistance. Trans-genic and non-transgenic control plants were molecularly and phenotypically character-ized in greenhouse and field conditions. Across multiple growing seasons, two selected transgenic lines consistently display robust resistance to both mayor viruses, without ex-hibiting yield penalties or noticeable phenotypic alterations. These results constitute a significant advancement, demonstrating that dual resistance to PVY and PLRV can be achieved while preserving the original agronomic performance of the cultivar. This breakthrough not only contributes to long-term crop productivity but also provides a more sustainable strategy for managing viral diseases in potato production.