Transgenic broccoli with high levels of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1C protein control diamondback moth larvae resistant to Cry1A or Cry1C

A synthetic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cry1C gene was introduced into broccoli (Brassica oleracea ssp. italica) by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Twenty-one Cry1C transgenic plants were regenerated from 400 hypocotyl and petiole explants. Variable amounts of stable steady- state cry1C mRNA accumulated in different transgenic plants. Cry1C protein (up to 0.4% of total soluble protein) was produced in correlation with the cry1C mRNA levels. Leaf section and whole-plant bioassays were done using diamondback moth (DBM) larvae from lines susceptible to Bt or resistant to Cry1A or Cry1C proteins (Cry1AR or Cry1CR, respectively). Plants with high levels of Cry1C protein caused rapid and complete mortality of all three types of DBM larvae with no defoliation. Plants with lower levels of Cry1C protein showed an increasing differential between control of susceptible of Cry1AR DBM. This study demonstrated that high production of Cry1C protein can protect transgenic broccoli not only from susceptible or Cry1AR DBM larvae but also from DBM selected for moderate levels of resistance of Cry1C. The Cry1C- transgenic broccoli were also resistant to two other lepidopteran pests of crucifers (cabbage looper and imported cabbage worm). These plants will be useful in studies of resistance management strategies involving multiple transgenes. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

苏云金芽孢杆菌菌株YBT1535转cry1C基因菌的构建

利用电脉冲将ｃｒｙ１Ｃ基因转子苏云金孢杆菌野生菌株ＹＢＴ１５３５,筛选得到３个转化子。质粒电泳、ＰＣＲ扩增及Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ杂交结果均证明,基因ｃｒｙ１Ｃ已转入菌株ＹＢＴ１５３５。生物测定结果表明,３个转化子对甜菜夜蛾的毒力比出发菌ＹＢＴ１５３５均有显著的提高,转化子ＹＢＴ１５３５－１和ＹＢＴ１５３５－３对小菜蛾和棉铃虫的生物活性与出发菌ＹＢＴ１５３５相近,而转子化子ＹＢＴ１５３５－２则有一定幅度     

与大白菜霜霉病抗性主效QTL连锁的分子标记开发

霜霉病是危害大白菜的三大病害之一,该病的发生会严重影响大白菜的产量及品质,因而研究与霜霉病抗性QTL紧密连锁的分子标记对大白菜抗病新品种培育具有重要意义。该研究在前期工作的基础上,选用高感霜霉病株系91-112、高抗霜霉病株系T12-19以及由二者为双亲构建的DH群体为实验材料,针对大白菜霜霉病抗性主效QTL——BrDW所在的标记区间,利用已有的大白菜基因组信息发展与抗性QTL紧密连锁的分子标记,通过Blast和IMap分析,将与BrDW连锁的RAPD标记K14-1030定位于大白菜KBrB058M10上(位于Contig214上),根据KBrB058M10附近的BAC及BAC-end序列设计引物,结合限制性内切酶酶切及HRM分析方法,筛选得到5个与BrDW连锁的分子标记,包括1个Indel标记Brb062-Indel230,3个CAPS标记Brb094-DraⅠ787、Brb094-AatⅡ666和Brb043-BglⅡ715,1个SNP标记Brh019-SNP137;同时,通过筛选与目标区域具有同源性的Unigene序列得到了1个与BrDW紧密连锁的SSR标记bru1209。标记Brb062-Indel230、Brb094-DraⅠ787、Brb094-AatⅡ666、Brb043-BglⅡ715、Brh019-SNP137和bru1209与RAPD标记K14-1030之间的遗传距离分别为4.3 cM、1.7 cM、5.9 cM、5.9 cM、4.6 cM和0.8 cM,在对DH群体中的抗性株系选择上准确率分别为69.7%、70.9%、72.4%、72.4%、58.3%和74.2%,可应用于分子标记辅助选择,为霜霉病抗性分子育种奠定了良好基础。     

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of cotyledonary explants of Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis)

 A procedure for producing transgenic Chinese cabbage plants by inoculating cotyledonary explants with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA101 carrying a binary vector pIG121Hm, which contains kanamycin-resistance and hygromycin-resistance genes and the GUS reporter gene, is described. Infection was most effective (highest infection frequency) when explants were infected with Agrobacterium for 15 min and co-cultivated for 3 days in co-cultivation medium at pH 5.2 supplemented with 10 mg/l acetosyringone. Transgenic plants of all three cultivars used were obtained with frequencies of 1.6–2.7% when the explants were regenerated in shoot regeneration medium solidified with 1.6% agar. A histochemical GUS assay and PCR and Southern blot analyses confirmed that transformation had occurred. Genetic analysis of T1 progeny showed that the transgenes were inherited in a Mendelian fashion. Received: 15 December 1998 / Revision received: 2 July 1999 · Accepted: 8 July 1999     

Gene expression and insect resistance in transgenic broccoli containing a Bacillus thuringiensis cry1Ab gene with the chemically inducible PR-1a promoter

We produced 49 broccoli plants (Brassica oleracea L. ssp. italica) containing a Bacillus thuringiensis cry1Ab gene under control of the chemically inducible PR-1a promoter from tobacco. Most of them showed substantial or complete control of neonate diamondback moth larvae, regardless of whether the transgene was induced or not. Ten plants were selected for detailed study via northern and western analysis and insect bioassays. They expressed the cry1Ab gene and gave complete insect control when treated with the chemical inducers INA (2,6-dichloroiso-nicotinic acid) or BTH (1,2,3-benzothiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester); however, leaves treated with water alone were also partially or completely protected from insect damage. Transgenic progeny plants showed greater inducibility than primary transformants at the molecular level. Two progeny lines produced cry1Ab mRNA and Cry1Ab protein and gave insect control only after induction, both when detached leaves and intact plants were tested. The relevance of these results to resistance management strategies is discussed.     

Medium and genotype factors influencing shoot regeneration from cotyledonary explants of Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis)

Medium conditions for reliable shoot regeneration from cotyledonary explants of Chinese cabbage were examined. Maximum shoot regeneration was obtained in the presence of 5 mg/l BA and 0.5 mg/l NAA. Shoot induction was further improved by the addition of AgNO₃ as well as higher concentrations (1.2–1.6%) of agar in the regeneration medium. When 123 genotypes were tested, a large variation in regeneration frequency was observed, ranging from 95% to 0%. Shoot regeneration frequency was not related to origin and days to maturity of the genotypes. Ethylene production from cultured explants seemed to play an important role in shoot regeneration. Explants of highly responsive genotypes or if cultured on the medium solidified with a higher concentration of agar generally showed low levels of ethylene production. However, AgNO₃, which also enhanced shoot induction, resulted in an increase in ethylene production. The possible interaction between ethylene and shoot regeneration is discussed. Received: 26 September 1997 / Revision received: 6 March 1998 / Accepted: 20 March 1998     

Inheritance and expression of the cry1Ab gene in Bt ( Bacillus thuringiensis) transgenic rice

The inheritance and expression patterns of the cry1Ab gene were studied in the progenies derived from different Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) transgenic japonica rice lines under field conditions. Both Mendelian and distorted segregation ratios were observed in some selfed and crossed F₂ populations. Crosses between japonica intra-subspecies had no significant effect on the segregation ratios of the cry1Ab gene, but crossing between japonica and indica inter-subspecies led to distorted segregation of the cry1Ab gene in the F₂ population. Field-release experiments indicated that the cry1Ab gene was stably transmitted in an intact manner via successive sexual generations, and the concentration of the Cry1Ab protein was kept quantitatively stable up to the R₆ generation. The cry1Ab gene, driven by the maize ubiquitin promoter, displayed certain kinds of spatial and temporal expression patterns under field conditions. The content of the Cry1Ab protein varied in different tissues of the main stems, the primary tillers and the secondary tillers. Higher levels of the Cry1Ab protein were found in the stems, leaves and leaf sheaths than in the roots, while the lowest level was detected in grains at the maturation stage. The content of the Cry1Ab protein in the leaves peaked at the booting stage and was lowest at the heading stage. Furthermore, the Cry1Ab content of cry1Ab expression in different tissues of transgenic rice varied individually with temperature. Received: 17 April 2001 / Accepted: 7 May 2001     

苏云金杆菌cry 1C基因检测及其与杀虫活性的关系

对实验室分离保存的 5 4株苏云金芽孢杆菌的H 血清型、杀虫晶体蛋白质 ,杀虫基因cry 1C和对甜菜夜蛾的活性进行了检测 ,分析了它们之间的关系。结果表明 ,有 2 8株菌株含有cry 1C基因 ,携带有cry 1C基因的菌株的晶体蛋白质主要为 135ku左右 ,它们对甜菜夜蛾均有较高的毒性 ,这些菌株的鞭毛抗原血清型主要分布在H 5和H 7。     

Stable Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin content in interspecific F1 and backcross populations of wild Brassica rapa after Bt gene transfer

Stable expression of a transgene may lead to increased fitness for wild plants after acquiring the transgene via crop-weed hybridization. Here, we investigate the stability of Bt toxin content in wild Brassica rapa acquiring the Bt gene from Bt Brassica napus. The Bt toxin content in nine Bt-expressing B. napus lines was 0.80-1.70 micro g/g leaf tissue throughout the growing season. These nine lines were crossed with three accessions of wild B. rapa and the Bt gene was successfully transferred to interspecific hybrids (F1) and successive backcross generations (BC1 to BC4). The Bt toxin level in F1 and BC progenies containing the Bt gene remained at 0.90-3.10 micro g/g leaf tissue. This study indicates that the Bt gene can persist and be stably expressed in wild B. rapa.     

Improved production of insecticidal proteins in Bacillus thuringiensis strains carrying an additional cry1C gene in its chromosome

A cryIC gene, whose product is active against Spodoptera exigua, was introduced into wildtype Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki strain YBT1520 using an integrative and thermosensitive vector, pBMB-FLCE, which was developed based on B. thuringiensis transposon Tn4430 harboring a tnpI-tnpA gene. With the mediation of TnpI-TnpA, the cry1C gene was integrated into the chromosome of the host strain. To prevent secondary integration, the integrative vector was eliminated by moving recombinant cultures to 46 degrees C for generations. Two integrative recombinant B. thuringiensis strains BMB1520-E and BMB1520-F were obtained. In recombinant BMB1520-F, the cry1C gene was expressed stably at a significant level and did not reduce the expression of endogenous crystal protein genes. Bioassay results indicated that BMB1520-E and BMB1520-F showed a higher level of activity against S. exigua third-instar larvae than did their parent strains, in addition to the high toxicity to Plutella xylostella third-instar later larvae.     

大白菜细胞质雄性不育系和其保持系的RAPD分析

利用RAPD技术对大白菜细胞质雄性不育系CMS341-7和其保持系3411-7的基因组DNA进行了比较分析,共使用了269个随机引物,其中有163个引物在两系之间都得到了扩增产物,79个引物扩增结果在两系之间表现出了遗传多态性。找到了不育系和保持系的特异扩增条带CMSOPL01670和MOPB04600。并对这些特异片段的来源及其在细胞质雄性不育中的作用进行了讨论。     

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Brassica campestris ssp. Parachinensis with synthetic Bacillus thuringiensis cry1Ab and cry1Ac genes

 An effective plant regeneration procedure and a gene transfer system via Agrobacterium tumefaciens were developed in Brassica campestris ssp. parachinensis. Hypocotyls from 5-day-old seedlings with 2 days pre-culture were infected with Agrobacterium strain MOG301 harboring a binary vector containing a synthetic Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) cry1Ab or cry1Ac gene with full codon-modification. After culture and selection on MS medium supplemented with 4.0 mg/l BAP, 2.0 mg/l NAA, 70 μM AgNO₃ and 50 mg/l kanamycin, a number of kanamycin-resistant plantlets were regenerated. PCR and Southern blotting analysis were used to identify and characterize the transgenic plants with the integrated cry1Ab or cry1Ac gene. Western blotting analysis of the transgenic plants confirmed the expression of insecticidal proteins encoded by cry1Ab or cry1Ac. Subsequent bioassay with larvae of the Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, demonstrated that the transgenic plants were resistant to feeding damage. Received: 22 February 1999 / Revision received: 14 April 1999 / Accepted: 26 April 1999     

Cloning and study of the expression of a novel cry1Ia-type gene from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki

AIMS: Cloning and expression of a new cry1Ia-type gene of Bacillus thuringiensis. METHODS AND RESULTS: PCR amplification, using gene cry1I-specific primers revealed the presence of such a gene in the strain BNS3 of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki. The cloning and sequencing from BNS3 of the cry1Ia-type gene, called crybns3-3, showed an open reading frame of 2160-bp, encoding a protein of 719 amino acid residues. Both nucleotide and amino acid sequences similarity analysis revealed that the crybns3-3 is a new cry1Ia-type gene, presenting several differences from the cry1Ia-type genes. The study of the expression of crybns3-3 by Northern blot and RT-PCR showed that it was transcribed. The expression of crybns3-3 under the control of BtI and BtII promoters revealed that Crybns3-3 would co-crystallize with the endogenous delta-endotoxins. CONCLUSIONS: crybns3-3 is a novel cry1Ia gene isolated from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki strain BNS3. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The characteristics of crybns3-3 indicate that it is a new cry1Ia-type gene. Amino acid residue substitutions presented in Crybns3-3 could be exploited for both toxicity and specificity studies. Crybns3-3 would interact and co-crystallize at least partially with the endogenous delta-endotoxins of BNS3, and then participate in the formation of the parasporal crystal inclusions.     

Expression of a Bacillus thuringiensis cry1B synthetic gene protects Mediterranean rice against the striped stem borer

Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ba endotoxin, which was shown to exhibit a tenfold lower lethal concentration 50 (LC50) than Cry1Ac in a Striped Stem Borer (SSB) diet incorporation assay. The 1.950-bp synthetic cry1B gene, possessing an overall GC content of 58 %, was cloned under the control of the maize ubiquitin promoter first intron and first exon regions. The resulting vector, designated as pUbi-cry1B, was transferred to two commercial Mediterranean cultivars of rice, Ariete and Senia, using microprojectile acceleration-mediated transformation. Thirty-two and 47 T0 events were generated in cvs. Ariete and Senia, respectively. Southern blot and immunoblot analyses allowed the identification of 7 Senia and 1 Ariete events harbouring both an intact gene cassette and expressing Cry1B at a level ranging from 0.01% to 0.4% of the total soluble proteins. Three Senia and 1 Ariete events were found to be protected against second instar SSB larvae in whole plant feeding assays, exhibiting 90–100% mortality 7 days after infestation. Spatial and temporal variation in transgene expression was further examined in resistant event 64 of cv. Ariete. Stable accumulation of Cry1B, representing 0.4% of the total soluble proteins, was observed over the T2 to T4 generations in leaf tissue 20, 40, 70 and 90 days after germination in both young and old leaves and in internodes. Ariete event 64 was found to be fully protected from attacks of third and fourth instar SSB larvae over subsequent generations. Received: 7 February 2000 / Revision received: 18 May 2000 / Accepted: 29 May 2000     

Characterization of two Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. morrisoni strains isolated from Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lep., Thaumetopoeidae)

The pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa Den. and Schiff. (Lep., Thaumetopoeidae) is one of the most harmful insect pests for pine species in Mediterranean countries including Turkey. Two Bacillus thuringiensis isolates obtained from T. pityocampa were identified and characterized in terms of crystal shape using electron microscopy, SDS–PAGE analysis, cry gene contents, H-serotype and insecticidal activity. Examination by a scanning electron microscope showed that Tp6 and Tp14 isolates have flat square and bipyramidal crystal shapes, respectively. PCR analysis showed that Tp6 contains cry3 gene and Tp14 isolate contains cry1 and cry2 genes. On the other hand, the presence of Cry3 and Cry1 proteins were confirmed by observation of approximately 65- and 130-kDa proteins by SDS–PAGE in Tp6 and Tp14 isolates, respectively. According to H-serotype results, these isolates were identified as Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. morrisoni (H8a8b). Toxicity tests were performed against six insect species belonging to Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. The highest insecticidal activity was 100% for Tp6 isolate on larvae of Agelastica alni and Leptinotarsa decemlineata and 100% for Tp14 isolate on larvae of Malacosoma neustria. Our results indicate that isolates Tp6 and Tp14 may be valuable biological control agents for various coleopteran and lepidopteran pests.     

大白菜细胞质雄性不育系RAPD特异扩增片段的克隆及其序列分析

利用RAPD技术从大白菜细胞质雄性不育系CMS3411-7的DNA中得到1个特异扩增片段CMSO-PL01670,进一步以该片段为探针进行Dot和Southern杂交证实了该片段为不育系所特有。回收该特异扩增片段并将其克隆到pGEM-T Easy载体上进行序列测定。测序结果表明该片段全长673bp,其碱基组成为A T=67.16％。通过与GenBank EMBL DDBJ PDB中的455 972个序列进行比较,同源性均小于30％,表明该片段为一新发现序列。并且该序列的 4 - 216的区域内含有1个可编码70个氨基酸的开放阅读框架。上述结果为今后从分子水平进一步研究大白菜细胞质雄性不育打下了坚实的基础。     

大白菜新型细胞质雄性不育系6w-9605A的育性鉴定和花药败育的细胞学观察

采用石蜡切片技术,研究了大白菜(Brassica campestris L.ssp.pekinensis)细胞质雄性不育系6w-9605A及其保持系6w-9605B的花药发育过程的细胞形态学特征,确定不育系花药败育时期及方式,并对不育系6w-9605A进行花器官观察和育性鉴定.结果表明:保持系6w-9605B花药发育正常;不育系6w-9605A花药发育受阻于孢原分化时期,占总败育花药的66.7％,不形成花粉囊和花粉粒,属于无花粉囊型败育;另外33.3％的败育花药可形成花粉囊,小孢子均受阻于单核靠边期或者二胞期,败育特点为绒毡层细胞异常肥大,挤压小孢子,导致小孢子和绒毡层解体;6w-9605A的不育性稳定、彻底,不育株率和不育度均为100％.     

Genetic mapping and localization of a major QTL for seedling resistance to downy mildew in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis)

Downy mildew caused by the fungus Peronospora parisitica is a serious threat to members of the Brassicaceae family. Annually, a substantial loss of yield is caused by the widespread presence of this disease in warm and humid climates. The aim of this study was to localize the genetic factors affecting downy mildew resistance in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis). To achieve this goal, we improved a preexisting genetic map of a doubled-haploid population derived from a cross between two diverse Chinese cabbage lines, 91-112 and T12-19, via microspore culture. Microsatellite simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, isozyme markers, sequence-related amplified polymorphism markers, sequence-characterized amplified region markers and sequence-tagged-site markers were integrated into the previously published map to construct a composite Chinese cabbage map. In this way, the identities of linkage groups corresponding to the Brassica A genome reference map were established. The new map contains 519 markers and covers a total length of 1,070 cM, with an average distance between markers of 2.06 cM. All markers were designated as A1–A10 through alignment and orientation using 55 markers anchored to previously published B. rapa or B. napus reference maps. Of the 89 SSR markers mapped, 15 were newly developed from express sequence tags in Genbank. The phenotypic assay indicated that a single major gene controls seedling resistance to downy mildew, and that a major QTL was detected on linkage group A8 by both interval and MQM mapping methods. The RAPD marker K14-1030 and isozyme marker PGM flanked this major QTL in a region spanning 2.9 cM, and the SSR marker Ol12G04 was linked to this QTL by a distance of 4.36 cM. This study identified a potential chromosomal segment and tightly linked markers for use in marker-assisted selection to improve downy mildew resistance in Chinese cabbage.     

大白菜部分形态性状的QTL定位与分析

应用352个标记位点的大白菜AFLP和RAPD图谱和一套栽培品种间杂交获得的重组自交系群体,采用复合区间作图的方法对大白菜9个形态性状进行QTL定位及遗传效应研究。在14个连锁群上检测到50个QTL:其中控制株型的QTL有5个;控制株高的QTL有6个;控制开展度的QTL有5个;控制最大叶长的QTL有7个;控制最大叶宽的QTL有4个;控制叶形指数的QTL有6个;控制中肋长的QTL有7个;控制中肋宽的QTL有4个;控制抽苔的QTL有6个。另外,估算了单个QTL的遗传贡献率和加性效应。这将为大白菜品种改良中形态性状的分子标记辅助选择提供理论依据。     

Cloning and characterisation of a novel holotype crystal protein gene,cry59Ba1, from Bacillus thuringiensis strain Bm59-2, toxic to Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera)

Abstract

A novel cry59-type gene, cry59Ba1, was obtained from isolate Bm59-2 and identified from an assembled plasmid genome sequence. This gene was found to encode a polypeptide of 674 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 75.2 kDa. This polypeptide was 62.1% identical to cry59Aa1. The Cry59Ba1 protein was expressed in the acrystalliferous mutant strain HD73^? and tested against Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera), Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera) and Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera). The bioassay showed Cry59Ba1 protein to be highly toxic to S. exigua (Lepidoptera) (LC50 =26.2 µg/ml, 95% confidence limit, 16.2-75.3 µg/ml). The cloning of cry59Ba1 gene may provide a novel type insecticidal resource for resolving the problem of lepidopteran insects developing resistance to the Cry1 proteins.