The expression of a synthetic cryIA(b) gene in transgenic maize confers resistance to European corn borer
1997
Estruch, J.J. | Carozzi, N.B. | Desai, N. | Warren, G.W. | Duck, N.B. | Koziel, M.G.
Pest control constitutes a major area of interest for the biotechnology industry. Genes encoding insecticidal proteins have been cloned and they are being introduced in crop plants. At CIBA Agricultural Biotechnology, we have introduced a truncated form of the cryIA(b) gene obtained from Bacillus thuringiensis into an elite line of maize. A synthetic version of the gene was made to increase CryIA(b) protein levels in transgenic maize. The expression of the crylA(b) gene was targeted to the pollen, pith, and green tissues by using appropriate tissue specific promoters. The resulting transgenic maize plants were evaluated for resistance to European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis, under field conditions. Plants with high levels of the crylA(b) protein exhibited excellent resistance to repeated heavy infestations of the pest.
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