Effect of plant age, larval age, and fertilizer treatment on resistance of a cry1Ab-transformed aromatic rice to lepidopterous stem borers and foliage feeders

The resistance of vegetative, booting, and flowering stage plants of a variety of an aromatic rice, Oryza sativa L., transformed with a Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner cry1Ab gene under control of the maize phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) promoter was evaluated against four lepidopterous rice pests--the stem borers Chilo suppressalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), and the foliage feeders Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Naranga aenescens Moore (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Plants of the cry1Ab-transformed line (no. 827) were more resistant to young larvae of S. incertulas, C. suppressalis, and C. medinalis than control plants at the vegetative stage but not at the flowering stage. Survival of 10-d-old stem borer larvae did not differ on cry1Ab plants and control plants at either the vegetative or flowering stage, but the development of 10-d-old C. suppressalis larvae was retarded on the vegetative stage cry1Ab plants. Immunological analysis also showed an apparent decline in Cry1Ab titer in leaf blades and leaf sheaths at the reproductive stage. In experiments comparing three fertilizer treatments (NPK, PK, and none), there was a significant interaction between fertilizer treatment and variety on larval survival only in whole-plant assays at booting stage with C. suppressalis. On cry1Ab plants, larval survival did not differ significantly among the three fertilizer levels, whereas on control plants survival was highest with the NPK treatment. cry1Ab plants tested at the sixth and seventh generations after transformation were more resistant than control plants to N. aenescens and C. suppressalis, respectively, suggesting that gene silencing will not occur in line 827. The results of the experiments are discussed in terms of resistance management for B. thuringiensis toxins in rice.     

Frequency of alleles conferring resistance to a Bacillus thuringiensis toxin in a Philippine population of Scirpophaga incertulas (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Using the F2 screen methodology, we estimated the frequency of alleles conferring resistance to the Cry1Ab toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner in a Philippine population of the stem borer Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker). Evaluation of >450 isofemale lines for survival of F2 larvae on cry1Ab plants did not detect the presence of an allele conferring a high level of resistance. The frequency of such an allele in the sampled population was conservatively estimated to be <3.6 x 10(-3) with 95% confidence and a detection probability of 94%. However, there was evidence of the presence of alleles conferring partial resistance to Cry1Ab. The frequency of alleles for partial resistance was estimated as 4.8 x 10(-3) with a 95% CI between 1.3 x 10(-3) and 1.04 x 10(-2) and a detection probability of 94%. Our results suggest that the frequency of alleles conferring resistance to Cry1Ab in the population of S. incertulas sampled is not too high to preclude successful implementation of the high dose/refuge resistance management strategy.     

Evaluation of a chemically inducible promoter for developing a within-plant refuge for resistance management

Chemically inducible production of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins in transgenic plants may provide considerable benefits in preventing or delaying the evolution of insect resistance to Bt crops by creating within-plant temporal refuges. We examined the effect of inducible cry1Ab expression on survival of different genotypes (RR, RS, and SS) of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), in transgenic broccoli, Brassica oleracea L., plants transformed with a PR-1a/cry1Ab expression cassette. Spraying leaves of these plants with the inducer acibenzolar-s-methyl [= benzo (1,2,3)-thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester] (ASM) resulted in high levels of Bt toxin, and detached leaves from fully induced plants caused 100% mortality to all instars of P. xylostella SS and RS genotypes. When plants infested with larvae were treated with ASM, only a few larvae that were nearing completion of their development were able to survive the induction process. Signal transduction from ASM-treated leaves to new plant tissue also was evaluated using a larval assay. New foliage that emerged after plants were induced remained toxic to > or = 80% of RS larvae up to the fourth new leaf. In whole plant tests, however, induced plants remained protected from larval damage for > or = 3 wk. Uninduced PR-1a/cry1Ab plants seemed to produce low levels of Bt that were undetected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay but that resulted in significant fitness costs for susceptible insects. The suitability of PR-1a/cry1Ab broccoli plants for insect resistance management and the requirements of an appropriate inducible promoter are discussed.     

Expression of a Bacillus thuringiensis toxin (cry1Ab) gene in cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata L.) chloroplasts confers high insecticidal efficacy against Plutella xylostella

Chloroplast genetic engineering is an environmentally friendly approach, where the foreign integrated gene is often expressed at a higher level than nuclear transformation. The cry1Ab gene was successfully transferred into the cabbage chloroplast genome in this study. The aadA and cry1Ab genes were inserted into the pASCC201 vector and driven by the prrn promoter. The cabbage-specific plastid vectors were transferred into the chloroplasts of cabbage via particle gun mediated transformation. Regenerated plantlets were selected by their resistance to spectinomycin and streptomycin. According to antibiotic selection, the regeneration percentage of the two cabbage cultivars was 4-5%. The results of PCR, Southern, Northern hybridization and western analyses indicated that the aadA and cry1Ab genes were not only successfully integrated into the chloroplast genome, but functionally expressed at the mRNA and protein level. Expression of Cry1Ab protein was detected in the range of 4.8-11.1% of total soluble protein in transgenic mature leaves of the two species. Insecticidal effects on Plutella xylostella were also demonstrated in cry1Ab transformed cabbage. The objectives of this study were to establish a gene transformation system for Brassica chloroplasts, and to study the possibility for insect-resistance in dicot vegetables using chloroplast gene transformation.     

Distribution and diversity of cry genes in native strains of Bacillus thuringiensis obtained from different ecosystems from Colombia

Colombia is a tropical country located at the north of South America. It is considered to be one of the most important countries in terms of its biodiversity worldwide. One hundred and eight soil samples obtained from agricultural crops and wild ecosystems were evaluated in terms of the presence of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) native strains. One hundred and eight different Bt strains were isolated and characterized by the presence of crystal proteins by SDS-PAGE and a multiplex PCR with general and specific primers for cry1 and cry3, cry7, and cry8 gene detection. Most of the Bt strains (73%) reacted with the cry1 general primers; 27.8% of the Bt strains reacted with cry3, cry7, and cry8 general primers and 17.8% of strains did not react with any of these two sets of primers. Thirty different PCR profiles were found in the strains with cry1 genes when they were analyzed with specific primers (cry1A to cry1F). A high frequency of joint occurrence was observed for cry1Aa/cry1Ab, cry1Aa/cry1Ac, cry1Ab/cry1Ac, and cry1C/cry1D genes with a Pearson coefficient of 0.88, 0.74, 0.76, and 0.87, respectively. Other distinctive characteristics were found in the Colombian collection as the presence of 22.2% of native strains which presented, at the same time, lepidopteran and coleopteran active genes. Interesting relations were found as well between the cry gene distribution and the geographical areas sampled. Finally, some strains with moderate to high biopesticide activity against Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera) and Premnotrypes vorax (Coleoptera) insects were identified, this being important to explore future microbial strategies for the control of these crop pests in the region.     

苏云金芽胞杆菌鲇泽亚种HD-133 cry1D和cry1Ab mRNA含量及稳定性研究

苏云金芽胞杆菌鲇泽亚种菌株HD－133含有代表性的三种cry1类基因cry1Ab,cry1C和cry1D,它们的表达量却明显不同。通过Northern杂交检测了菌株HD－133中基因cry1D和cry1Ab的mRNA含量及其稳定性。结果表明：基因cry1D mRNA的形成比基因cry1Ab的mRNA滞后3h,且基因cry1D形成mRNA的量很低,产生过程很平稳,在芽胞形成中期比cry1Ab mRNA低3．7倍;cry1Ab mRNA含量在芽胞形成前期高于后期,在后期仍能大量持续稳定地转录。cry1D mRNA的半衰期为18min,而cry1Ab mRNA的半衰期为14min。尽管cry1D mRNA比cry1Ab mRNA的半衰期更长,但cry1D和cry1Ab转录时间和转录量的差异是导致其表达量差异的重要原因。     

Development of broad-spectrum insect-resistant tobacco by expression of synthetic cry1Ac and cry2Ab genes

Efficacy of two newly synthesized cry1Ac and cry2Ab genes was checked in tobacco before their expression in cotton. Both genes were artificially synthesized and codon optimized with respect to cotton-preferred codon usage. These genes were cloned in a plant expression vector and then transformed into tobacco. Fifty-eight putative transgenic plants were recovered from the selected explants. Successful integration of both genes in plant genome was confirmed by PCR amplification. Expression of transgenes was confirmed by PCR amplification from total plant RNA. Detached leaf insect bioassays were conducted with Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera exigua larvae. About 12 % of the transgenic plants showed significantly high resistance to S. exigua. Significant mortality (62 %) of H. armigera was recorded within 24 h of bioassays. Both toxins showed synergistic effect in tobacco and broadened the spectrum of plant activity against insects.     

Cloning and nucleotide sequence of a novel cry gene from Bacillus thuringiensis

A cry1Ab-type gene was cloned from a new isolate of Bacillus thuringiensis by PCR. When restriction pattern was compared with that of known genes it was found to have additional restriction site for ClaI. Nucleotide sequencing and homology search revealed that the toxin shared 95% homology with the known Cry1Ab proteins as compared to more than 98% homology among the other reported Cry1Ab toxins. The gene encoded a sequence of 1,177 amino acids compared to 1,155 amino acids encoded by all the other 16 cry1Ab genes reported so far. An additional stretch of 22 amino acids after the amino acid G793 in the new toxin sequence showed 100% homology with several other cry genes within cry1 family. Homology search indicated that the new cry1Ab-type gene might have resulted by nucleotide rearrangement between cry1Ab and cry1Aa/cry1Ac genes.     

Field evaluation of resistance of transgenic rice containing a synthetic cry1Ab gene from Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner to two stem borers

Two transgenic rice (Oryza sativa L.) lines, KMD1 and KMD2 at the R4 generation, transformed with a synthetic cry1Ab gene from Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, were first evaluated for stem borer resistance in the field during the rice growing season of 1998 in two areas of Zhejiang Province, China. Both KMD1 and KMD2 were highly resistant to the stem borers Chilo suppressalis (Walker) and Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker), and were completely undamaged during the whole rice growing season. In contrast, damage to the plants of the untransformed parental control (Xiushui 11) was in the form of deadhearts or whiteheads. Under natural infestation by the C. suppressalis, the damage to control plants reached a peak of 88.7% of plants and 20.1% of tillers encountered with deadhearts. Under artificial and natural infestation of neonate striped stem borers at the vegetative stage and booting stage, 100% of plants and 25.6% of tillers, 78.9% of plants and 15.6% of productive tillers among artificially infested control plants were observed with the symptom of deadhearts and whiteheads, respectively. Damage to the control plants from artificial infestation by the S. incertulas reached a peak of 97.0% of plants and 22.9% of tillers damaged. The field research indicated that both KMD1 and KMD2 show great potential for protecting rice from attack by these two stem borers.     

Composition and ecological distribution of cry proteins and their genotypes of Bacillus thuringiensis isolates from warehouses in China

The composition and distribution of insecticidal crystal proteins (Cry proteins) and their genotypes of Bacillus thuringiensis isolates from warehouses were evaluated through SDS-PAGE and PCR techniques. The results showed that the electrophoretic patterns of delta-endotoxin crystal preparations were divided into five types. The isolates containing approximately 135 kDa with a 65-kDa protein or only a approximately 135-kDa protein, which amounted to 55.74 and 35.25% of all isolates respectively, were the two major profiles of Cry protein isolated. The distribution of cry genes of B. thuringiensis from warehouses was highly variable. Cry protein genotypes detected in B. thuringiensis isolates included cry1Aa5, cry1Ab9, cry1Ac5, cry1Ba, cry1Ca1, cry1Da1, cry1Ea3, cry2, and cry3 genes, but not cry1Fa2. Among them, cry2, cry1Ac5, and cry1Ab9 genes were the most common in our B. thuringiensis isolates. Most B. thuringiensis isolates contained several cry genes in a total of 18 profiles. Among them, cry1Ac5 with cry1Ea3; cry1Aa5, cry1Ab9, cry1Ac5 with cry1Ea3; and cry1Aa5, cry1Ab9 with cry1Ac5 were the three principal profiles. The distribution of the Cry proteins and cry genes in isolates depended on geography and type of warehouses. Gene profiles may be used as markers for insecticidal activity of B. thuringiensis strains, but they did not directly reflect the toxic level of B. thuringiensis strains. The serotype of B. thuringiensis strains did not directly reflect the specific cry gene profiles in the strains, but certain relationships can be established between the serotype and cry genotype.     

A novel cry2Ab gene from the indigenous isolate Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki

A novel cry2Ab gene was cloned and sequenced from the indigenous isolate of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki. This gene was designated as cry2Ab25 and its sequence revealed an open reading frame of 1,902 bp encoding a 633 aa protein with calculated molecular mass of 70 kDa and pI value of 8.98. The amino acid sequence of the Cry2Ab25 protein was compared with previously known Cry2Ab toxins, and the phylogenetic relationships among them were determined. The deduced amino acid sequence of the Cry2Ab25 protein showed 99% homology to the known Cry2Ab proteins, except for Cry2Ab10 and Cry2Ab12 with 97% homology, and a variation in one amino acid residue in comparison with all known Cry2Ab proteins. The cry2Ab25 gene was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed that the Cry2Ab25 protein is about 70 kDa. The toxin expressed in BL21(DE3) exhibited high toxicity against Malacosoma neustria and Rhagoletis cerasi with 73% and 75% mortality after 5 days of treatment, respectively.     

Association analysis between serotype, cry gene content, and toxicity to Helicoverpa armigera larvae among Bacillus thuringiensis isolates native to Spain

Serotyping, cry gene content, and toxicity to Helicoverpa armigera were determined for 178 isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis native to Spain. A total of 13 different cry1 and cry2 genes were detected when isolates were screened by PCR analysis. Results showed that cry2 and cry1Ia were the most frequent cry genes in the collection (74 and 57%, respectively); whereas cry1D, cry1Aa, cry1Ab, and cry1C were only moderately abundant (49, 48, 47, and 36%, respectively). The most uncommon cry genes were cry1Ac, cry1E, cry1B, cry1Ib, cry1Ad, cry1F, and cry1G, with frequencies of 24, 14, 13, 8, 5, 5, and 1%, respectively. The distribution of some cry genes was somewhat associated with particular serovars. For example, genes cry1C and cry1D were especially frequent in the serovar aizawai, while cry1B was very frequent in the serovar thuringiensis. Bioassays against H. armigera larvae showed a wide variation in the insecticidal potency, even among strains sharing the same set of cry genes and within the same serotype.     

Characterisation of the cry54Ab1 operon of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. sichuansis strain MC28

A novel cry gene operon harbouring two open reading frames (ORFs) was discovered in a large plasmid of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) subsp. sichuansis MC28 (pMC189). The first ORF encoded 743 amino acids. It had a deduced molecular mass of 84.5 kDa and 73.2% identity with Cry54Aa1 protein as indicated by amino acid homology. This cry gene was designated as cry54Ab1 by the Bt Toxin Nomenclature Committee. The second ORF encoded 503 amino acids and had a deduced molecular mass of 58.2 kDa. It is here called as orf2. The whole cry54Ab1 operon, cry54Ab1 and orf2 were digested with BamHI/SalI and inserted into a shuttle vector, pSTK. The recombinant plasmids were transferred into an acrystalliferous mutant Bt HD73^?. Parasporal inclusions were observed only under expression of the whole cry54Ab1 operon. The bioassay experiments showed that expressed products of the cry54Ab1 and the whole cry54Ab1 operon were all toxic to Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera).     

转cry1Ab基因水稻对二化螟幼虫血细胞的影响

研究了转cry1Ab基因水稻“克螟稻1号”对二化螟Chilo suppressalis幼虫细胞免疫系统的影响。结果表明,转cry1Ab基因水稻对二化螟幼虫的血细胞影响明显,取食转cry1Ab基因水稻后,二化螟幼虫各类血细胞都明显低于取食非转基因水稻“秀水11”的对照组（原血细胞和囊血细胞在取食初期例外）,随取食时间延长,各类血细胞数量及血细胞总数均呈递减的趋势。从各类血细胞所占血细胞总数的百分比来看,原血细胞在取食36 h后锐减,而浆血细胞和粒血细胞则比例增加,其余珠血细胞、囊血细胞的变化不明显。另外,血细胞还出现空泡化、肿胀等病态变化,致使血细胞快速破裂。由此推测转cry1Ab基因水稻自身表达的毒蛋白能严重干扰靶标昆虫二化螟幼虫的细胞免疫系统。     

转cry1Ab基因抗虫水稻的田间试验

采用农杆菌介导的遗传转化技术, 将Bt基因cry1Ab导入三系恢复系明恢63获得了一批抗虫性及农艺性状较好的转基因纯合株系。研究中, 进一步检测了这些纯合株系的拷贝数、Bt蛋白含量、抗虫性及主要农艺性状。结果显示: 5个转基因纯合株系均为单拷贝; 纯合株系T_1Ab-10及其杂种的Bt蛋白含量最高; 人工接虫和自然感虫试验中, T_1Ab-10对二化螟、三化螟和稻纵卷叶螟均表现高度抗性; 喷药试验中, 阳性植株与阴性植株、对照植株的主要农艺性状均没有显著差异。这说明转cry1Ab基因纯合株系T_1Ab-10具商品化潜力, 可作基因聚合材料。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌杀虫晶体蛋白基因cry1Ab16的克隆及表达

通过对已知cry1类基因以及已发表的cry1Ab的序列进行分析,分别设计了引物P1、P2、P3和P4,首次从无晶体的芽胞杆菌AC11中扩增到一个苏云金芽胞杆菌杀虫晶体蛋白（Insecticidal crystal protein, ICP）cry1Ab类基因。测序结果显示该基因与已知的cry1Ab1基因有8个核苷酸不同,编码的蛋白有7个氨基酸差异。此基因已登录GenBank,并命名为新亚型基因cry1Ab16 (Ac. NO. AF375608)。Southern杂交结果进一步证实该基因存在于菌体的质粒上。将cry1Ab16基因克隆到Escherichia coli表达载体pQE30上并转化E. coli M15。Western印迹分析表明,E. coli M15表达了130 kD的Cry1Ab16蛋白,但此蛋白不稳定,大部分降解成65 kD的蛋白。将表达Cry1Ab16 蛋白的大肠杆菌用涂布法对三龄小菜蛾（Plutella xylostella）毒力测定,其LC50为258.3mg/L;对其他夜蛾科害虫的生长发育也有明显的抑制作用。     

Quantitative genetic analysis of larval life history traits in two alpine populations of Rana temporaria

We estimated genetic and maternal variance components of larval life history characters in alpine populations of Rana temporaria (the common frog) using a full-sib/half-sib breeding design. We studied trait plasticity by raising tadpoles at 14 or 20°C in the laboratory. Larval period and metamorphic mass were greater at 14°C. Larval period did not differ between populations, but high elevation metamorphs were larger than low elevation metamorphs. Significant additive variation for larval period was detected in the low altitude population. No significant additive variation was detected for mass at metamorphosis (MM), which instead displayed significant maternal effects. Plasticity in metamorphic mass of froglets was greater in the high altitude population. The plastic response of larval period to temperature did not differ between the populations. Evolution of metamorphic mass is likely constrained by lack of additive genetic variation. In contrast, significant heritability for larval period suggests this trait may evolve in response to environmental change. These results differ from other studies on R. temporaria, suggesting that populations of this broadly distributed species present substantial geographic variation in the genetic architecture and plasticity of tadpole life history traits.     

苏云金芽胞杆菌菌株YBT833含不同杀虫晶体蛋白基因转化子的特性

用电脉冲方法将含有苏云金芽胞杆菌杀虫晶体蛋白基因ｃｒｙ１Ｃ的重组质粒ｐＢＭＢＬＣ转入野生菌株ＹＢＴ８３３,获得含不同杀虫晶体蛋白基因的４个转化子。质粒检测和Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ杂交证明它们均为菌株ＹＢＴ８３３含重组质粒ｐＢＭＢＬＣ的转化子。ＰＣＲ扩增表明,转化子ＹＢＴ８３３－１保留了原有的杀虫晶体蛋白基因;转化子ＹＢＴ８３３－２丢失了基因ｃｒｙ１Ａｂ;转化子ＹＢＴ８３３－３则丢失了所有的杀虫晶体蛋白基     

苏云金芽孢杆菌CrylAb13基因的克隆及表达研究

BtC005是我国自行分离的对多种害虫具有毒杀作用的苏云金芽孢杆菌。经PCR-RFLP系统鉴定,它含有crylAb基因。Southern blot结果显示;PstI酶切C005质粒所得的8.5kb长的DNA片段为crylAb基因的阳性杂交带。以pUCP19为载体,克隆了该片段并证明其含有crylAb基因,对其进行亚克隆和测序,结果表明该基因编码区为3468bp,其编码的蛋白含1155个氨基酸,分子量为130.6kD,等电点为pH4.845。该基因已在GenBank基因库中注册,Accession number为AF254640,并为国际Bt杀虫晶体蛋白基因命名委员会正式命名为crylAb13。将crylAb13基因在Bt无晶体突变株cryB^-中表达,蛋白质电泳结果表明在130kD处有表达带,并证明GryAb对小菜蛾有较高的杀虫活性。     

GENETIC POPULATION STRUCTURE OF DROSOPHILA TRIPUNCTATA: PATTERNS OF VARIATION AND COVARIATION OF TRAITS AFFECTING RESOURCE USE

Drosophila tripunctata is an ecological generalist, using both fruits and mushrooms as breeding sites. Isofemale strains of this species were established from seven populations over a wide part of its range and assayed for electrophoretic variability, oviposition-site preference, and larval performance on several types of substrates. Significant variation among strains within populations was found for oviposition-site preference, larval development time on tomatoes versus mushrooms, and tolerance (as measured by development time) of the mushroom toxin α-amanitin. Even populations at the periphery of the range, which electrophoretic data suggest have been through bottlenecks, harbored levels of variation for oviposition-site preference approximately equal to that found in central populations. All correlations between preference and various measures of larval performance were close to zero. Thus, there is no evidence for sympatric divergence of host races or for coadapted complexes of genes related to host specificity. Strains with higher-than-average amanitin tolerance tended to develop more rapidly on tomatoes than on nontoxic mushrooms, whereas the less-tolerant strains had slower development on tomatoes. This suggests that there may be genetically based correlations and trade-offs in larval performance on different breeding sites. No geographic differentiation among populations was found for either oviposition-site preference or any measure of larval performance. There is also very little electrophoretic variation among populations. Thus, the species as a whole, rather than local populations, appears to be the unit of evolution with respect to resource use in D. tripunctata.