Transgenic papaya: a case for worldwide control of papaya ringspot virus

Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) was detected in the main papaya growing region of Hawaii in 1992. By 1994 Hawaii's papaya industry was facing devastating damage from PRSV. Efforts to develop resistant transgenic papaya were started in the mid 1980s. By 1991, a resistant line was identified, field trialed, and subsequently released to growers in 1998. 'Rainbow' an F-1 hybrid from a cross of the transgenic 'SunUp' and non-transgenic 'Kapoho' is now widely planted and has virtually saved the papaya industry in Hawaii. Other transgenic papayas have been produced for other countries and our data suggest that worldwide control of PRSV by transgenic papaya is possible. The technical and regulatory hurdles that had to be overcome in Hawaii will be discussed, along with our approach for worldwide control of PRSV.