Transgenic potato plants with enhanced resistance to the tomato moth, Lacanobia oleracea: growth room trials

Insecticidal effects of three plant-derived genes, those encoding snowdrop lectin (GNA), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) chitinase (BCH) and wheat alpha-amylase (WAI), were investigated and compared with effects of the cowpea trypsin inhibitor gene (CpTI). Transgenic potato plants containing each of the t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular breeding 1997-01, Vol.3 (1), p.49-63
Main Authors: Gatehouse, A.M.R, Davison, G.M, Newell, C.A, Merryweather, A, Hamilton, W.D.O, Burgess, E.P.J, Gilbert, R.J.C, Gatehouse, J.A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accumulation
alpha-amylase
Biomass
Butterflies & moths
Chitinase
Cowpeas
Galanthus nivalis
Gene expression
gene transfer
Genes
genetic transformation
Herbivores
Infestation
Insecticide resistance
Insects
Lacanobia oleracea
Larvae
lectins
Levels
messenger RNA
Molecular biology
Noctuidae
Pest resistance
Phaseolus vulgaris
Plant biology
Plant protection
Plants
Potatoes
Proteins
Ribonucleic acid
RNA
Solanum tuberosum
structural genes
Survival
Tomatoes
Transgenic plants
Triticum aestivum
Trypsin
Trypsin inhibitor gene
Trypsin inhibitors
Wheat
α-Amylase
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Summary:Insecticidal effects of three plant-derived genes, those encoding snowdrop lectin (GNA), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) chitinase (BCH) and wheat alpha-amylase (WAI), were investigated and compared with effects of the cowpea trypsin inhibitor gene (CpTI). Transgenic potato plants containing each of the three genes singly, and in pairwise combinations were produced. All the introduced genes were driven by the CaMV 35S promoter; expression was readily detectable at the RNA level in transformants, but not detectable accumulation of WAI could be detected in transgenic potatoes containing its encoding gene. GNA and BCH were accumulated at levels up to 2.0% of total soluble protein; both proteins were expressed in a functional form, and GNA was shown to undergo 'correct' N-terminal processing. Accumulation levels of individual proteins were higher in plants containing a single foreign gene than in plants containing two foreign genes. Resistance of the transgenic plants to insect attack was assayed by exposing the plants to larvae of the tomato moth, Lacanobia oleracea. All the plants tested which were expressing GNA showed an enhanced level of resistance. Leaf damage was reduced by more than 50% compared to controls; total insect biomass per plant was reduced by 45-65%, but larval survival was only slightly reduced (20%). These results support the hypothesis that GNA has a significant antifeedant effect on insects. Expression of BCH had no protective effect against this insect. Expression of CpTI in transgenic potatoes had similar effects to expression of GNA on total insect biomass and survival, but did not afford protection against insect damage to the plant.
ISSN:1380-3743
1572-9788
DOI:10.1023/a:1009600321838