The invention provides Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) vectors useful for expression of heterologous proteins in plants such as soybean. The BPMV vectors are also useful for virus-induced gene silencing. The vectors of the invention include modifications of BPMV RNA1 sequences so that infection with the vectors produces only moderate symptoms. The vectors also comprise novel RNA2 vectors which specifically provide for non-translated VIGS constructs and further which do not require in frame insertion of heterologous sequences to be expressed.