SummaryGeminiviruses areDNAviruses that cause severe crop losses in different parts of the world, and there is a need for genetic sources of resistance to help combat them. Arabidopsis has been used as a source for virus‐resistant genes that derive from alterations in essential host factors. We used a virus‐induced gene silencing (VIGS) vector derived from the geminivirusCabbage leaf curl virus(CaLCuV) to assess natural variation in virus–host interactions in 190 Arabidopsis accessions. Silencing ofCH‐42, encoding a protein needed to make chlorophyll, was used as a visible marker to discriminate asymptomatic accessions from those showing resistance. There was a wide range in symptom severity and extent of silencing in different accessions, but two correlations could be made. Lines with severe symptoms uniformly lacked extensiveVIGS, and lines that showed attenuated symptoms over time (recovery) showed a concomitant increase in the extent ofVIGS. One accession, Pla‐1, lacked both symptoms and silencing, and was immune to wild‐type infectious clones corresponding to CaLCuV orBeet curly top virus(BCTV), which are classified in different genera in the Geminiviridae. It also showed resistance to the agronomically importantTomato yellow leaf curl virus(TYLCV). Quantitative trait locus mapping of a Pla‐1 X Col‐0 F2population was used to detect a major peak on chromosome 1, which is designatedgip‐1(geminivirus immunity Pla‐1‐1). The recessive nature of resistance to CaLCuV and the lack of obvious candidate genes near thegip‐1locus suggest that a novel resistance gene(s) confers immunity.