Dennis Gonsalves
Emeritus Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor

Cornell University
Department of Plant Pathology
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station
Geneva, NY 14456
Telephone: 315-787-2331 (Department office

Division of Effort
Research - 100%, Plant Virology

Major emphasis was on the development of virus resistant transgenic plants through the concept of parasite-derived resistance where a viral gene is transformed into the host to induce resistance.  Gonsalves’ program successfully developed plants such as chrysanthemums, tomato, squash, melons, and papaya that are resistant to such viruses as cucumber mosaic, zucchini yellow mosaic, watermelon mosaic virus 2, tomato spotted wilt, and papaya ringspot.  Collaborations with the Asgrow Seed Company resulted in the development of the commercial squash, Freedom II, that is resistant to zucchini yellow mosaic virus and watermelon mosaic virus 2.  Transgenic papaya cultivars SunUp and Rainbow that are resistant to papaya ringspot virus was developed for Hawaii, where the virus has severely affected the industry since 1992.  These cultivars were released for commercialization in Hawaii in May 1998.  Emphasis was also placed on developing transgenic grapevines for virus resistance.  Transgenic grapevines with the coat proteins of grapevine leafroll 2, 3, or fanleaf viruses were developed and are being evaluated by Dr. Marc Fuchs for resistance to these viruses.

Hui-Liang Wang, Ph.D.
Min Wang, Ph.D.
Rita Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Hector Alvizo, Ph.D.
Kai-Shu Ling, Ph.D.
Paula Tennant, Ph.D.
Manoel Souza, Ph.D.
Fuh-Jyh Jan, Ph.D.
Bao-Zhong Meng, Ph.D.
Augustine Gubba, Ph.D.
Gustavo Fermin, Ph.D.
Pahol Kosayichinda, Ph.D.