Engineered resistance and risk assessment associated with insecticidal and weeds resistant transgenic cotton using wister rat model

Abstract

Stacking multiple genes into cotton crop to cop up multiple biotic stresses such as insects and weeds is a promising tool to save crop from losses. Transgenic cotton variety, VH-289, with double Bt and cp4EPSPS genes under the control of 35S promoter was used for the expression analyses and biosafety studies. The transgenic cotton plants were screened through PCR amplification of fragments, 1.7 kb for Cry1Ac, 582 bp for Cry2A and 250 bp for cp4EPSPS; which confirmed the presence of all genes transformed in transgenic cotton. The Cry1Ac + Cry2A and cp4EPSPS proteins were quantified through ELISA in transgenic cotton plants. The Glyphosate assay performed by spraying 1900 mL per acre of glyphosate Roundup further confirmed complete survival of transgenic cotton plants as compared to the non-transgenic cotton plants and all weeds. Similarly, insect infestation data determined that almost 99% insect mortality was observed in controlled field grown transgenic cotton plants as compared to the non-transgenic control plants. Evaluation of effect of temperature and soil nutrients availability on transgene expression in cotton plants was done at two different cotton growing regions, Multan and Lahore, Pakistan and results suggested that despite of higher temperature in Multan field, an increased level of Cry and cp4EPSPS proteins was recorded due to higher soil organic matter availability compared to Lahore field. Before commercialization of any transgenic variety its biosafety study is mandatory so, a 90 days biosafety study of the transgenic cotton plants with 40% transgenic cottonseeds in standard diet showed no harmful effect on wister rat model when studied for liver function, renal function and serum electrolyte.

Genotypic Variability and Trait Association in Cotton (Gossypium Hirsutum L.) Seedlings Under Normal and Drought Conditions

“…A possible reason for the decrease in the mean value of other seedling traits is the deficiency of water that slowed the physiological process. Similar adverse effects of water stress on seedling traits have been noted in previous studies (Loffroy et al, 1983, Ball et al, 1994Pace et al, 1999;Pettigrew, 2004;Basel et al, 2005;Hafeez et al, 2021;Iqbal et al, 2022;Puspito et al, 2015). Based on rooting character and root/shoot ratio, three drought-tolerant cotton genotypes 149-F, BH-124 and DPL-26 and three drought susceptible VH-28, FH-945 and CIM-446 were selected.…”

Role of Actin Dynamics and GhACTIN1 Gene in Cotton Fiber Development: A Prototypical Cell for Study

“…Synthetic fiber is the biggest contemporary challenge to natural fiber, as it can provide all the parameters in demand by the textile industry. Cotton crops are complex, sensitive, and susceptible to abiotic and biotic stresses like insect pests, CLCuV (cotton leaf curl virus), and weeds [ 90 , 91 , 92 ]. Lepidopterans insects alone, including pink bollworms, armyworm, and spotted bollworm, account for 30% of the total losses of cotton crop quality and significantly decrease its quantity [ 90 ].…”