关键词: 基因沉默, VIGS技术, 蔬菜, 基因功能

Abstract:

Recently, the virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) as a reverse genetics tool is used for gene function analysis. Due to its advantages of simple construction, low cost and short cycle, VIGS technology has been extensively and deeply studied in the field of functional genomics. VIGS technology, as a fast, effective, high-throughout new technology, has played an important role in research of vegetable functional genes in plant development processes, disease resistance, stress resistance, biosynthesis and metabolic regulation. Herein, it is of great significance to excavate new genes and identify the function of disease resistance, stress resistance genes, crop improvement and molecular breeding by using VIGS technology. Many VIGS systems with virus as vector have been successfully established in vegetable crops, but they still have some shortcomings. With the in-depth exploration of the mechanism of VIGS and the continuous development of virus vectors, VIGS has been applied to a wider range of vegetable crops. This paper reviewed the current status and research progresses of gene function of eggplant, melons and leafy vegetables based on VIGS technology in recent years, and the mechanism of VIGS technology, the application of virus vector and the progress of VIGS technology was briefly analyzed. Meanwhile, the advantages and disadvantages of VIGS technology, RNA interference (RNAi) and current CRISP/CAS9 technology were compared and analyzed. It focused on the application of VIGS technology in vegetable fruit development and disease resistance, and the latest progresses of VIGS technology in vegetable crop metabolic regulation, hormone regulation, biotic and abiotic stress responses were summarized. The cases of studying target genes function and silencing phenotypes of solanaceous, melon, leafy and legume vegetables by VIGS were listed. Finally, the problems and deficiencies of VIGS technology in studying gene function of vegetable crops were summarized, such as lack of suitable VIGS vector, lack of effective virus vector infection method, difficulty in systematic silencing in some tissues, low silencing efficiency, inherent limitations of VIGS, etc. At the same time, the future research directions of VIGS technology in the development of virus vectors with higher specificity and stability, selection of efficient gene fragments, and establishment of virus vectors suitable for more host range were proposed. The application foreground of gene function analysis, improvement, molecular breeding of vegetable crops and production not carrying exogenous gene of vegetable varieties by VIGS technique was prospected. This review would provide a guidance and give ideas for future studies on the growth and development of vegetable crops, secondary metabolism and adversity stress related gene function research and breakthrough in the key factors restricting VIGS technique.

Key words: gene silencing, VIGS, vegetable, gene function