Over-expression of SlSHN1 gene improves drought tolerance by increasing cuticular wax accumulation in tomato.

Increasing cuticular wax accumulation in plants has been associated with improving drought tolerance in plants. In this study, a cDNA clone encoding the SlSHN1 transcription factor, the closest ortholog to WIN/SHN1 gene in Arabidopsis, was isolated from tomato plant. Expression analysis of SlSHN1 indicated that it is induced in response to drought conditions.

An efficient in vitro-inoculation method for Tomato yellow leaf curl virus.

Background: Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is a member of the family Geminiviridae, genus Begomovirus. To test the infectivity of TYLCV in tomato plants, an improved protocol for inoculation of in vitro-cultured tomato plants was developed.

Results: A TYLCV isolate was cloned, sequenced and used to construct a 1.