The PepMoV has been considered the most frequently detected potyvirus. When it co-infects with CMV or PMMoV, it gives severe impact to total pepper harvest in Korea. Since F1 hybrid that resistant to PepMoV has not been developed, we have developed transgenic peppers using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation with a Hc-Pro gene of the PepMoV. A large number of GM peppers were tested for resistance to the PepMoV, and after consequent self-crossing up to T4 generation, a highly tolerant pepper to PepMoV called T20 was selected. So far, BC4F1 lines have been selected by back-crossing with 4 elite lines through a breeding program. Very recently, based on molecular analysis, we have selected another event, #10-2, which is also resistant to PepMoV. Horticultural difference was investigated for both GM lines, #T20 and 10-2, and no significance was found comparing to non-GM lines.

In Korea, CMV (cucumber mosaic virus) is the most frequently occurring virus with a single infection rate of 45%. However, a total occurrence of CMV by co-infection, either couple or multiple, with BBWV (broad bean wilt virus), PepMoV (pepper mottle virus) and PMMoV (pepper mild mottle virus) covers over 90% in the field cultivation of pepper. The PepMoV is transmitted by several aphid species, and it has been considered the most frequently detected potyvirus when it co-infects with CMV or PMMoV. Since F1 hybrid that resistant to PepMoV has not been developed, we have developed transgenic peppers using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation with a Hc-Pro gene of the PepMoV. A large number of T1 peppers were tested for resistance to the PepMoV, and T1 peppers tolerant of PepMoV were selected. After consequent self-crossing up to T4 generation, highly tolerant peppers to PepMoV were selected. So far, BC3F1 lines have been selected by back-crossing with 4 elite lines through a breeding program. The horticultural differences of the GM line comparing to inbred lines were investigated and no statistical significance between GM and non-GM lines was found. Based on molecular analysis, One of GM lines, 10-2, contained the transgene in the non-coding region indicating that this line would be a GM event.