Studies related to pathogen-mediated virus resistance in plants were instrumental in providing some of the historical observations which ultimately led to the vital discovery of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-induced gene silencing or RNA interference (RNAi), which has since revolutionized research on plant-virus interactions.

An  Historical Overview of RNAi in Plants.- RNA Silencing and Antiviral Defense in Plants.- Biological Chemistry of Virus-encoded Suppressors of RNA Silencing:  An Overview.- Virus-Induced Gene Silencing Using Begomovirus Satellite Molecules.- Strategies for Viral Cross Protection in Plants.- Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV)-Based Virus-Induced Gene Silencing.- Virus-Induced Gene Silencing in Hexaploid Wheat Using Barley Stripe Mosaic Virus Vectors.- Characterization of Plant Virus-Encoded Gene Silencing Suppressors.- Generation of Plant Small RNA cDNA Libraries for High-Throughput Sequencing.- Modelling Antiviral Resistance in Plants.- Isolation and Detection of Small RNAs from Plant Tissues.- Isolation and Analysis of Small RNAs from Virus-Infected Plants.- Use of Hairpin RNA Constructs for Engineering Plant Virus Resistance.- Artificial MicroRNAs for Plant Virus Resistance.- Isolation and Biochemical Analysis of Plant Small RNAs.- Isolation and Analysis of Plant RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerases.- Plant Viroids: Isolation, Characterization/Detection, and Analysis.- Structural and Functional Analysis of CMV Satellite RNAs in RNA Silencing.- Virus-Induced Gene Silencing in Soybean.- Chimeric, Infectious, and Stable Virus Transcripts to Study RNA Silencing in ‘Dark Green’ Islands.- Rolling Circle Amplification-Mediated Hairpin RNA (RMHR) Library Construction in Plants.- The Interaction Between Plant Viroid-Induced Symptoms and RNA Silencing.- Identification of Small Molecule Inhibitors of Tomato Bushy Stunt Virus (TBSV) Replication.- Expression of Dominant-Negative Mutants to Study Host Factors Affecting Plant Virus Infections.

Studies related to pathogen-mediated virus resistance in plants were instrumental in providing some of the historical observations which ultimately led to the vital discovery of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-induced gene silencing or RNA interference (RNAi), which has since revolutionized research on plant-virus interactions. In Antiviral Resistance in Plants: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers in the field detail many of the methods which are now commonly used to study the phenomenon of RNA silencing in relation to viral infections of plants.  These include methods and techniques for the isolation and quantitative/qualitative analyses of plant small 21-24 nucleotide RNAs such as small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) as well as the analysis and manipulation of virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in both monocotyledonous and dicotyledenous plants and the use of hairpin RNA (hpRNA) transgenes.  Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology™ series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Antiviral Resistance in Plants: Methods and Protocols seeks to aid scientists in the further study of this crucially important botanical trait.

Details many of the methods currently used to study RNA silencing in relation to viral infections in plants Features step-by-step, easy to follow protocols from an international assortment of laboratories Includes key tips and expert implementation advice to ensure successful results