Effects of transgenic Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab cotton on life table parameters and population dynamics of the cotton aphid

为研究新型转Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab基因棉对棉蚜Aphis gossypii Glover生命表参数及种群动态的影响.2010-2011年以常规棉中棉所49为对照,对新型转Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab基因棉在室内进行了生物测定和田间进行了系统的调查.结果表明,和常规棉相比,转Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab基因棉花上棉蚜的净增值率降低81.69％,差异达显著水平;内禀增长率和周限增长率分别降低65.00％和13.01％,但差异不显著;平均世代周期和种群加倍时间分别增加5.54％和154.19％,后者差异达显著水平.和常规棉相比,2010年转Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab基因棉花百株苗蚜、伏蚜和秋蚜的数量分别降低10.79％、37.18％和17.49％,差异均未达显著水平;2011年转Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab基因棉花百株苗蚜的数量增加2.03％,伏蚜和秋蚜的数量分别降低37.41％和64.03％,差异均未达显著水平.     

转Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab棉花生长势及其对棉田节肢动物物种丰富度的影响

【背景】转基因棉花在商业化种植之前,必须评价其环境安全性。其中新型棉花材料的生存竞争能力和对物种丰富度的影响是评价的重要内容。【方法】以转Cry1Ac＋Cry2Ab基因棉为试验材料,转Cry1Ac棉花中棉所41和非转基因棉花中棉所49为对照品种,分别于2014年5~9月对棉花株高、主茎叶片数、叶绿素含量、比叶面积、果枝数、蕾铃数等生长参数进行比较,同时对二代、三代和四代棉铃虫发生期棉田物种丰富度进行系统调查。【结果】转Cry1Ac＋Cry2Ab棉花的生长势与转Cry1Ac棉花和非转基因棉花基本相当,没有表现出明显的竞争优势;产量构成参数在成铃和脱落等方面比非转基因棉表现出良好的优势。对棉田节肢动物物种丰富度的影响表明,转Cry1Ac＋Cry2Ab棉花对靶标害虫棉铃虫具有良好的控制效果,对主要刺吸性害虫棉蚜、棉蓟马、烟粉虱、绿盲蝽与天敌龟纹瓢虫、草间小黑蛛、草蛉和小花蝽等的种群丰富度在个别时期有所影响,但总体上与转Cry1Ac棉田和非转基因棉田没有显著性差异。【结论与意义】转Cry1Ac＋Cry2Ab棉花无竞争优势,但目标性状优势较好;对棉田节肢动物物种丰富度无明显影响。研究结果为新型转Cry1Ac＋Cry2Ab棉花对棉田环境安全方面的研究进一步补充了内容,为转基因棉花的环境安全评价提供科学数据。     

转Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab基因棉花主要生化物质含量变化及其对棉田昆虫的影响

【目的】新型转基因棉花在进入大规模商业化应用前,需对其生态环境安全性进行评价;同时,经基因改造的新型转基因抗虫棉花可能影响抗虫棉的次生代谢,进而导致一些综合的生态学效应,致使棉花生理上发生改变,这也是转基因植物安全性评价研究的重要内容。【方法】比较了不同关键时期新型转Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab基因棉花与转Cry1Ac基因棉花和非转基因棉花叶片的鲜重、干重和干鲜比、主要酶[超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)]活性、营养物质(蛋白质、氨态氮、脯氨酸和可溶性糖)和次生代谢产物(棉酚和单宁)含量的差异及其对棉田不同昆虫营养层昆虫个体总数和物种数的影响。【结果】棉花生长的蕾期、花期和花铃期,转Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab基因棉花、转Cry1Ac基因棉花和非转基因棉花叶片的鲜重、干重和干鲜比呈先升高后降低的趋势;SOD和POD活性在花铃期明显升高,CAT、APX和GR活性无显著变化;蛋白质、氨态氮含量无明显变化,脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量均表现为先升高后下降的趋势;棉酚含量在3个时期无显著变化,而单宁含量呈逐渐升高的趋势。3种棉花叶片中干物质积累、主要酶活性、营养物质和次生代谢产物含量均无显著差异;单株大铃数表现为转Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab基因棉花转Cry1Ac基因棉花非转基因棉花,小铃数则表现为转Cry1Ac基因棉花Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab基因棉花非转基因棉花;昆虫群落和害虫亚群落的昆虫个体总数均表现为转Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab基因棉田转Cry1Ac基因棉田非转基因棉田,天敌亚群落昆虫个体总数无显著变化;3种棉田中昆虫群落、害虫亚群落和天敌亚群落的物种数均未发生显著变化。【结论】转Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab基因棉花叶片干物质积累、产量性状、生化物质含量、酶活性在不同生长期表现不同,但上述参数在3种棉花之间无显著差异;且转Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab基因棉花具有较好的抗虫性,能有效降低棉田害虫数量。     

转Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab棉对棉铃虫的控制作用及对天敌捕食烟粉虱功能反应的影响

文章以转Cry1Ac基因棉(中棉所41)和常规棉(中棉所49)为对照,研究了转Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab基因棉(639020)在棉花生长的关键时期——蕾期(二代棉铃虫发生期)、花期(三代棉铃虫发生期)和花铃期(四代棉铃虫发生期)对棉铃虫的控制作用,同时研究了639020棉田主要捕食性天敌(中华草蛉幼虫、龟纹瓢虫、小花蝽和草间小黑蛛)对烟粉虱的捕食功能,明确了639020棉花在生长的关键时期对棉铃虫的控制效果及对棉田主要捕食性天敌捕食功能反应的影响。结果表明,639020棉花对二代和三代棉铃虫具有良好的控制作用,抗虫性分别比中棉所41提高了52.85%和16.22%,其中前者差异达显著水平,后者差异不显著。在棉花蕾期、花期和花铃期,639020棉田棉铃虫落卵量都比中棉所41棉田和中棉所49棉田低(除二代棉铃虫发生期);棉铃虫幼虫数量都极显著低于常规棉,且都低于防治指标,但与中棉所41棉田无显著差异。639020棉田中华草蛉、龟纹瓢虫、小花蝽和草间小黑蛛对烟粉虱的捕食功能与中棉所41棉田和常规棉田相比无显著变化。研究结果以期为新型转基因棉花环境安全性研究及其外源基因的抗虫遗传效应和生产应用前景进行安全性评价。     

转Cry1Ac/1Ab基因棉花对异色瓢虫生长发育及其捕食功能的影响

【目的】为探究转Cry1Ac/1Ab基因棉花对异色瓢虫生长发育及其捕食功能的影响。【方法】以转Cry1Ac/1Ab基因棉与其亲本常规棉为实验材料,利用取食不同棉花品种叶片的棉铃虫饲喂异色瓢虫幼虫。【结果】与常规亲本棉相比,取食饲喂转基因棉花叶片的初孵棉铃虫幼虫的异色瓢虫幼虫从1龄发育至化蛹期时间延长0.77 d,但差异不显著;除1龄幼虫体重增加(0.0773 mg)外,其余各龄期幼虫体重均有所下降,但差异均不显著;异色瓢虫1、2、3、4龄幼虫对初孵棉铃虫捕食量均随棉铃虫密度的增加而增加,捕食功能反应均符合HollingⅡ圆盘方程。【结论】转Cry1Ac/1Ab基因棉花对异色瓢虫生长发育无显著影响,饲喂取食转Cry1Ac/1Ab基因棉花的棉铃虫对异色瓢虫捕食功能无显著差异。     

转Bt基因棉花中Cry1Ac蛋白经烟粉虱途径向龟纹瓢虫的传递

【目的】烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci是转基因棉的非靶标害虫,对棉花生产造成严重影响。本文探讨转Bt基因棉花中Cry1Ac蛋白在棉花-烟粉虱-龟纹瓢食物链中的传递规律,以期为转基因棉的环境安全评价提供科学依据。【方法】在实验室条件下,以常规棉SM3号、33、SY321为对照,分析转Bt基因棉花GK12、XM33B、SGK321叶片、在这些棉花上取食的烟粉虱、以及捕食烟粉虱的瓢虫体内Cry1Ac蛋白含量。同时,将取食转Bt基因棉花上的烟粉虱的瓢虫转接到对应的受体亲本棉花上,分析瓢虫体内Cry1Ac蛋白含量变化规律。【结果】在转Bt基因棉花上取食的烟粉虱成虫和若虫以及它们的蜜露中均能检测到Cry1Ac蛋白,以转Bt基因棉花上的烟粉虱若虫为食料的龟纹瓢虫体Propylaea japonica内也能检测到Cry1Ac蛋白。龟纹瓢虫取食转Bt基因棉花上的烟粉虱若虫1 d后体内即能检测到Cry1Ac蛋白,并且随着取食时间的延长,体内Cry1Ac蛋白的含量逐渐增加,但到第6~8天后Cry1Ac蛋白的含量相对稳定。取食3个不同品种棉花上烟粉虱若虫的龟纹瓢虫体内Cry1Ac蛋白的含量存在明显差异,这种差异与棉花叶片上表达的Cry1Ac蛋白量呈正相关。但取食后6 d,在3个品种棉花上取食的龟纹瓢虫体内的Cry1Ac蛋白含量之间没有明显的差异。以转Bt基因棉花上的烟粉虱若虫为食料的龟纹瓢虫转移到对应的常规棉亲本上以后,体内的Cry1Ac蛋白的含量迅速下降,但10 d后仍能检测到微量的Cry1Ac蛋白。【结论】转Bt基因棉花中的Cry1Ac蛋白可以通过烟粉虱途径传递到龟纹瓢虫体内,龟纹瓢虫对食料中的Cry1Ac蛋白具有富集作用,并且Cry1Ac蛋白的富集存在饱和现象,富集饱和量与食料中的Cry1Ac含量无关;龟纹瓢虫脱离含有Cry1Ac蛋白的食料环境后,体内的Cry1Ac蛋白可以消减,但在10 d时间内龟纹瓢虫体内仍会有Cry1Ac残留。     

Cry1Ac和Cry2Ab杀虫蛋白对粘虫幼虫生长发育的影响

【目的】为探究Bt杀虫蛋白对次要靶标害虫粘虫Mythimna separata (Walker)(鳞翅目:夜蛾科)的杀虫活性及对其生长发育的影响。【方法】本文通过浸叶法饲喂初孵及2龄末粘虫不同剂量的Cry1Ac及Cry2Ab杀虫蛋白后,观察其死亡率,称量幼虫重,并统计了幼虫历期、化蛹率、蛹重、蛹期、蛹的羽化率、畸形率等指标。【结果】初孵幼虫取食浸泡含16、64、128μg/mLCry1Ac及Cry2Ab的玉米叶片后,随着时间的延长及浓度的增加,死亡率逐渐增加,且Cry1Ac杀虫蛋白对粘虫的生物活性高于Cry2Ab蛋白,在128μg/mL浓度下,取食Cry1Ac和Cry2Ab蛋白13d时的死亡率分别达到了65%及60%。取食两种蛋白后,初孵幼虫和2龄末幼虫重量均受到显著抑制,短期取食两种蛋白对幼虫历期、化蛹率、蛹重、蛹期、蛹的羽化率、畸形率没有影响。【结论】取食Cry1Ac和Cry2Ab杀虫蛋白后,对初孵幼虫有很好的杀虫活性,且Cry1Ac杀虫活性高于Cry2Ab杀虫蛋白;短期饲喂两种杀虫蛋白时,对2龄粘虫后期生长影响不大。本文结果为转Bt基因作物更好的应用于粘虫的防治提供了理论基础。     

转（Bt Cry1Ac+CP4EPSPS）基因抗虫抗草甘膦棉花对草甘膦的耐受性研究

本研究比较了转Bt Cry1Ac+CP_4EPSPS基因抗棉铃虫抗草甘膦棉花与常规棉花在新疆棉区对草甘膦的耐受性差异。两年的研究结果表明,转Bt Cry1Ac+CP_4EPSPS基因抗棉铃虫抗草甘膦棉花对草甘膦有较好的耐受性,而对照棉花中棉所49对草甘膦耐受性较差。苗期喷施草甘膦后转基因抗棉铃虫抗草甘膦棉花生长发育没有受到影响,而对照棉花中棉所49喷施草甘膦后生长发育受到了明显的影响,个别植株甚至死亡。转Bt Cry1Ac+CP_4EPSPS基因抗棉铃虫抗草甘膦棉花株高、真叶数、蕾数、产量等指标与对照相比差异显著。转Bt Cry1Ac+CP_4EPSPS基因棉花对草甘膦的耐受程度显著高于非转基因棉花。草甘膦对转基因抗草甘膦棉花无负面影响。     

Cry1Fa对Cry1Ac抗性棉铃虫的毒力评价

为了防治多种鳞翅目害虫, 表达Cry1Fa的转基因玉米和棉花已在美国商业化种植。明确棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera对Cry1Fa与Cry1Ac的交互抗性及这两种杀虫蛋白之间的协同作用, 可以为表达 Cry1Fa+Cry1Ac的转双价抗虫棉花的合理应用提供依据。本实验测定了Cry1Fa对棉铃虫敏感品系（96S）及用Cry1Ac筛选的抗性品系（BtR, 抗性倍数2 194.15倍）的毒力, 发现Cry1Fa对敏感棉铃虫的毒力远低于Cry1Ac, LC₅₀值是Cry1Ac的504.80倍; 而且抗性品系BtR对Cry1Fa存在19.98倍的交互抗性。Cry1Fa与Cry1Ac混用可以提高Cry1Fa毒杀敏感棉铃虫的效果, 尤其是Cry1Fa浓度较低时, 加入Cry1Ac, 可以显著增加Cry1Fa的毒力; 但只有加入较高浓度的Cry1Fa时才能增加Cry1Ac的毒力。由于BtR品系已经对Cry1Ac产生抗性, Cry1Ac对抗性棉铃虫的毒力明显降低; 在较高浓度的Cry1Ac中加入Cry1Fa可以显著增加棉铃虫的死亡率（P=0.0015, F=6.88, df=6）, 但最高死亡率仅为58.33%。D-饱和最优试验的结果证实, Cry1Ac对于敏感棉铃虫的死亡率的影响达到显著水平（t₁=13.76﹥t_0.05）, Cry1Ac与Cry1Fa的交互作用对毒力的影响也达到显著水平（t₂₂=2.42﹥t_0.05; t₁₁=6.95﹥t_0.05; t₁₂=3.43﹥t_0.05）。Cry1Ac和Cry1Fa对抗性棉铃虫死亡率的影响都达到显著水平（t₁=3.03﹥t_0.05;t₂=2.59﹥t_0.05）, 但Cry1Ac是决定抗、 感棉铃虫死亡率的关键因素; Cry1Ac与Cry1Fa最佳浓度配比范围都是1.41~2.10 μg/cm2; 在抗性品系中, Cry1Ac和Cry1Fa的交互作用不显著。所以, 尽管Cry1F+Cry1A作物扩大了杀虫谱, 但棉铃虫对这两种蛋白存在交互抗性, 而且这两种蛋白混用对治理抗Cry1Ac棉铃虫的效果不理想, 因此不建议在中国种植表达Cry1F+Cry1A的棉花。关     

低浓度Cry1Ac毒蛋白对棉大卷叶螟连续三代生长发育与繁殖的影响

棉大卷叶螟是棉花生长中后期的重要食叶性害虫.本研究以浸叶法测定低浓度(0.5 μg·g^-1)的Cry1Ac毒蛋白处理对棉大卷叶螟连续3个世代生长发育与种群增长的影响.结果表明: 处理后的棉大卷叶螟幼虫期比对照延长1.78～2.00 d,成虫寿命延长1.44～1.94 d,蛹体质量增加5.3%～11.8%;3个世代的单雌产卵量分别增加65.1%、47.3%和37.6%,种群趋势指数分别提高11.4%、17.5%和20.0%.这些指标与对照均存在显著差异.蛹历期、羽化率、性比和卵孵化率等与对照无显著差异.研究表明,转Bt基因棉长期种植后棉大卷叶螟的种群数量将会增加,需要进一步评估转基因棉种植的风险性,加强转基因棉田害虫的综合治理.     

Toxicity and characterization of cotton expressing Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2 proteins for control of lepidopteran pests

Cry1Ac protoxin (the active insecticidal toxin in both Bollgard and Bollgard II cotton [Gossypium hirsutum L.]), and Cry2Ab2 toxin (the second insecticidal toxin in Bollgard II cotton) were bioassayed against five of the primary lepidopteran pests of cotton by using diet incorporation. Cry1Ac was the most toxic to Heliothis virescens (F.) and Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), demonstrated good activity against Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and had negligible toxicity against Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) and Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith). Cry2Ab2 was the most toxic to P. gossypiella and least toxic to S. frugiperda. Cry2Ab2 was more toxic to S. exigua and S. frugiperda than Cry1Ac. Of the three insect species most sensitive to both Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins (including H. zea), P. gossypiella was only three-fold less sensitive to Cry2Ab2 than Cry1Ac, whereas H. virescens was 40-fold less sensitive to Cry2Ab2 compared with CrylAc. Cotton plants expressing Cry1Ac only and both Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2 proteins were characterized for toxicity against H. zea and S.frugiperda larvae in the laboratory and H. zea larvae in an environmental chamber. In no-choice assays on excised squares from plants of different ages, second instar H. zea larvae were controlled by Cry1Ac/Cry2Ab2 cotton with mortality levels of 90% and greater at 5 d compared with 30-80% mortality for Cry1Ac-only cotton, depending on plant age. Similarly, feeding on leaf discs from Cry1Ac/Cry2Ab2 cotton resulted in mortality of second instars of S.frugiperda ranging from 69 to 93%, whereas exposure to Cry1Ac-only cotton yielded 20-69% mortality, depending on plant age. When cotton blooms were infested in situ in an environmental chamber with neonate H. zea larvae previously fed on synthetic diet for 0, 24, or 48 h, 7-d flower abortion levels for Cry1Ac-only cotton were 15, 41, and 63%, respectively, whereas for Cry1Ac/Cry2Ab2 cotton, flower abortion levels were 0, 0, and 5%, respectively. Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2 concentrations were measured within various cotton tissues of Cry1Ac-only and Cry1Ac/Cry2Ab2 plants, respectively, by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Terminal leaves significantly expressed the highest, and large leaves, calyx, and bracts expressed significantly the lowest concentrations of Cry1Ac, respectively. Ovules expressed significantly the highest, and terminal leaves, large leaves, bracts, and calyx expressed significantly (P < 0.05) the lowest concentrations of Cry2Ab2. These results help explain the observed differences between Bollgard and Bollgard II mortality against the primary lepidopteran cotton pests, and they may lead to improved scouting and resistance management practices, and to more effective control of these pests with Bt transgenic crops in the future.     

Transfer of Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab proteins from genetically engineered Bt cotton to herbivores and predators

With the cultivation of Bt cotton, the produced insecticidal Cry proteins are ingested by herbivores and potentially transferred along the food chain to natural enemies, such as predators. In laboratory experiments with Bollgard II cotton, concentrations of Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab were measured in Lepidoptera larvae (Spodoptera littoralis, Heliothis virescens), plant bugs (Euschistus heros), aphids (Aphis gossypii), whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci), thrips (Thrips tabaci, Frankliniella occidentalis), and spider mites (Tetranychus urticae). Tritrophic experiments were conducted with caterpillars of S. littoralis as prey and larvae of ladybird beetles (Harmonia axyridis, Adalia bipunctata) and lacewings (Chrysoperla carnea) as predators. Immunological measurements (ELISA) indicated that herbivores feeding on Bt cotton contained 5%–50% of the Bt protein concentrations in leaves except whiteflies and aphids, which contained no or only traces of Bt protein, and spider mites, which contained 7 times more Cry1Ac than leaves. Similarly, predators contained 1%–30% of the Cry protein concentration in prey. For the nontarget risk assessment, this indicates that Bt protein concentrations decrease considerably from one trophic level to the next in the food web, except for spider mites that contain Bt protein concentrations higher than those measured in the leaves. Exposure of phloem sucking hemipterans is negligible.     

Control of resistant pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) by transgenic cotton that produces Bacillus thuringiensis toxin Cry2Ab

Crops genetically engineered to produce Bacillus thuringiensis toxins for insect control can reduce use of conventional insecticides, but insect resistance could limit the success of this technology. The first generation of transgenic cotton with B. thuringiensis produces a single toxin, Cry1Ac, that is highly effective against susceptible larvae of pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella), a major cotton pest. To counter potential problems with resistance, second-generation transgenic cotton that produces B. thuringiensis toxin Cry2Ab alone or in combination with Cry1Ac has been developed. In greenhouse bioassays, a pink bollworm strain selected in the laboratory for resistance to Cry1Ac survived equally well on transgenic cotton with Cry1Ac and on cotton without Cry1Ac. In contrast, Cry1Ac-resistant pink bollworm had little or no survival on second-generation transgenic cotton with Cry2Ab alone or with Cry1Ac plus Cry2Ab. Artificial diet bioassays showed that resistance to Cry1Ac did not confer strong cross-resistance to Cry2Aa. Strains with >90% larval survival on diet with 10 microg of Cry1Ac per ml showed 0% survival on diet with 3.2 or 10 microg of Cry2Aa per ml. However, the average survival of larvae fed a diet with 1 microg of Cry2Aa per ml was higher for Cry1Ac-resistant strains (2 to 10%) than for susceptible strains (0%). If plants with Cry1Ac plus Cry2Ab are deployed while genes that confer resistance to each of these toxins are rare, and if the inheritance of resistance to both toxins is recessive, the efficacy of transgenic cotton might be greatly extended.     

Fitness of Bt‐resistant cabbage loopers on Bt cotton plants

Development of resistance to the insecticidal toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in insects is the major threat to the continued success of transgenic Bt crops in agriculture. The fitness of Bt‐resistant insects on Bt and non‐Bt plants is a key parameter that determines the development of Bt resistance in insect populations. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of the fitness of Bt‐resistant Trichoplusia ni strains on Bt cotton leaves was conducted. The Bt‐resistant T. ni strains carried two genetically independent mechanisms of resistance to Bt toxins Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab. The effects of the two resistance mechanisms, individually and in combination, on the fitness of the T. ni strains on conventional non‐Bt cotton and on transgenic Bt cotton leaves expressing a single‐toxin Cry1Ac (Bollgard I) or two Bt toxins Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab (Bollgard II) were examined. The presence of Bt toxins in plants reduced the fitness of resistant insects, indicated by decreased net reproductive rate (R₀) and intrinsic rate of increase (r). The reduction in fitness in resistant T. ni on Bollgard II leaves was greater than that on Bollgard I leaves. A 12.4‐day asynchrony of adult emergence between the susceptible T. ni grown on non‐Bt cotton leaves and the dual‐toxin‐resistant T. ni on Bollgard II leaves was observed. Therefore, multitoxin Bt plants not only reduce the probability for T. ni to develop resistance but also strongly reduce the fitness of resistant insects feeding on the plants.     

A Sensitive Bioassay for the Detection of Cry1A Toxin Expression in Transgenic Cotton

In the process of development of insect resistant transgenic plants and also to evaluate the consistency in expression of the toxin under greenhouse and field conditions, immunological and bioassays are commonly used. The assay being described in this report, is based on the high levels of sensitivity of a cotton leaf feeding insect, the semilooper, Anomis flava (Fabricius) to Cry toxins (Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac). The assay is sensitive, quick and reproducible. Cry1Ac was the most toxic followed by Cry1Ab and Cry1Aa. LC 50 s of the three toxins on first instar larvae ranged from 0.79-6.08 ng cm -2 of leaf. LC 50 s of Cry1Ac for the fourth instar larvae ranged from 12.91-21.14 ng cm -2 while LC 50 s for Cry1Aa and Cry1Ab were in the range 53.0-138 ng cm -2 . The fiducial limits (at 95% probability) of the probit assay data indicated that there was no difference in response between the three different populations to each of the three toxins. The data from all assays were pooled for each of the three toxins separately and subjected to regression analysis to obtain a cumulative log dose response for first and fourth instar larvae. These can be used as standard curves to quantify toxin expression in plants based on mortality response of either first or fourth instar A. flava larvae. Apart from being used to detect expression in putative Bt cotton transgenic plants, the assay can also be used to follow the activity of Cry toxins in transgenic cotton plants in the field during the growing season.     

Control of Resistant Pink Bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) by Transgenic Cotton That Produces Bacillus thuringiensis Toxin Cry2Ab

Crops genetically engineered to produce Bacillus thuringiensis toxins for insect control can reduce use of conventional insecticides, but insect resistance could limit the success of this technology. The first generation of transgenic cotton with B. thuringiensis produces a single toxin, Cry1Ac, that is highly effective against susceptible larvae of pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella), a major cotton pest. To counter potential problems with resistance, second-generation transgenic cotton that produces B. thuringiensis toxin Cry2Ab alone or in combination with Cry1Ac has been developed. In greenhouse bioassays, a pink bollworm strain selected in the laboratory for resistance to Cry1Ac survived equally well on transgenic cotton with Cry1Ac and on cotton without Cry1Ac. In contrast, Cry1Ac-resistant pink bollworm had little or no survival on second-generation transgenic cotton with Cry2Ab alone or with Cry1Ac plus Cry2Ab. Artificial diet bioassays showed that resistance to Cry1Ac did not confer strong cross-resistance to Cry2Aa. Strains with >90% larval survival on diet with 10 μg of Cry1Ac per ml showed 0% survival on diet with 3.2 or 10 μg of Cry2Aa per ml. However, the average survival of larvae fed a diet with 1 μg of Cry2Aa per ml was higher for Cry1Ac-resistant strains (2 to 10%) than for susceptible strains (0%). If plants with Cry1Ac plus Cry2Ab are deployed while genes that confer resistance to each of these toxins are rare, and if the inheritance of resistance to both toxins is recessive, the efficacy of transgenic cotton might be greatly extended.     

取食Cry2Ab蛋白后棉铃虫幼虫中肠组织的病理变化

为了明确Cry2Ab杀虫蛋白的作用机制, 利用透射电镜观察了棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)3龄末幼虫取食含Cry2Ab蛋白（8 μg/g）饲料后中肠的组织病理变化, 并与分别取食含Cry1Ac蛋白（0.97 μg/g）饲料和正常饲料的棉铃虫进行了比较。结果表明： 棉铃 虫取食Cry2Ab蛋白后中肠细胞及其细胞器均发生了明显的病变, 主要表现为： 中肠杯状细胞的杯腔肿胀或拉长, 部分柱状细胞被杯状细 胞挤压出来, 微绒毛脱落, 细胞核皱缩, 质膜和核膜不清晰, 染色质凝聚, 线粒体拉伸变形, 内质网肿胀断裂; 并且随着取食时间 的延长病变越来越明显。与取食Cry1Ac蛋白的棉铃虫相比, Cry2Ab引起棉铃虫中肠组织发生病变的速度较慢。本研究可为Cry2Ab作为转基 因棉花的重要杀虫蛋白在将来更好地发挥作用提供理论依据。