When a knockout is an Achilles’ heel: resistance and susceptibility to potyviruses

Genetic resistances to pathogens can be engineered in plants, but can they have side-effects? A study on resistance to a major group of viruses potyvirus group in Arabidopsis points to some potential drawbacks associated with ‘knocking-out’ of susceptibility factors and suggests a safer approach by using genome editing to mimic natural resistances. These results have been recently published in Molecular Plant Pathology and have been highlighted by the British Society for Plant Pathology, more information here!