Induction of geminiviral resistance in contton plants

Abstract

Disclosed is a nucleotide sequence that is antisense to the truncated Rep gene of Cotton leqf curl virus (CLCuV). Also disclosed are the methods of making plant expressible vectors or DNA constructs comprising the said nucleotide sequence, which is operably linked to a promoter, and expressing said antisense RNA of truncated Rep gene of CLCuV in plant cells. which exhibit tolerance or resistance against CLCuV infection or other closely related geminiviruses compared to a non transformed control plant.