Transformation of indica rice with Bt pesticidal genes
1996
Riazuddin, S. | Husnain, T. | Khan, E. | Karim, S. | Khanum, F. | Makhdoom, R. | Altosaar, I.
Large number of isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis separated from different ecological environments in Pakistan were characterized for Cry gene composition and entomocidal activity against rice yellow stem borer and leaffolder. Isolates harboring combinations of CrylA(c) and CryllA genes were found most effective against the target larvae. To improve expression of the genes in plants, a synthetic CrylA(c) gene was placed under a constitutively expressing ubiquitin promoter and used in rice transformation experiments. Mature embryos of indica rice (cultivar Basmati 370) were bombarded with tungsten particles coated with DNA harboring synthetic CrylA(c) gene. Plants derived from the meristem tissues were transferred into the soil under greenhouse conditions where they grew to maturity bearing viable seeds. Three plants exhibited the presence of CrylA(c) gene in the plant genome as evidenced by Southern blotting. Further, laboratory bioassays confirmed expression of the Cry gene in the transformed plants. Two of these plants showed preferential resistance to leaffolder while one plant exhibited repellant properties. Transformed rice plants in the R1 progeny are being tested for stable inheritance and expression of the Cry gene
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