Constitutive expression of a synthetic cry1Ab gene confers resistance to potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella Zeller) larva

Abstract

The potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella Zeller) (PTM) is a destructive potato pest. Bacillus thuringiensis cry genes encode crystal proteins that have toxic characteristics against PTM. The aim of the present study was to develop a PTM resistant potato cv. Agria using the synthetic Bt cry1Ab gene. The transformation vector was constructed by inserting the cry1Ab gene into the pBI121 binary expression vector. The Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain AGL1 harboring the pBI35SCry1Ab construct was used for potato transformation. The results indicated that out of 97 putative transformed lines, 30 lines were PCR positive. Southern blot analysis revealed that one to three copies of transgenes were inserted into transgenic lines. The immunoassay test revealed the expression of the Cry protein. Furthermore, the results of bioassays confirmed the high mortality level of neonate larvae. The results of this study suggested that the transgenic lines have significant potential in pest control.