Patent ID: 8519113

Claim:
A plant gene expression system comprising: (a) a first gene construct comprising a truncated RNA-2 of a Cowpea Mosaic virus(CPMV)genome having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22, wherein the RNA-2 sequence between nucleotides 512 or 524 and 3300 of SEQ ID NO: 22 have been replaced with at least one foreign gene encoding a heterologous protein of interest, said truncated RNA-2 being operably linked to promoter and terminator sequences functional in a plant cell, wherein said truncation of the RNA-2 is such that no infectious viral particles are produced which could spread to other plants in the environment and expression of viral movement proteins and coat proteins is prevented; (b) a second gene construct comprising RNA-1 of said Comovirus bipartite virus genome operably linked to promoter and terminator sequences functional in a plant cell; and (c) a third gene construct, optionally incorporated within said first gene construct, said second gene construct or both, comprising a suppressor of gene silencing operably linked to promoter and terminator sequences functional in a plant cell.