Potential Benefits of the Transgenic Control of Plant Viruses in the United Kingdom

Much has been written on the possible risks arising from the use of virus-resistant transgenic crop plants but little of the benefits that might result. Many of the potential benefits are self-evident and relate to improved disease control, but others are less so and arise from such indirect effects as reductions in insecticide usage for the control of insect transmitted viruses. This paper attempts to discuss and (where possible) quantify possible benefits from transgenic approaches in relation to UK crop protection, but is in nature speculative as, to date, no such crops are in commercial production in the United Kingdom.