Journal of Economic Entomology (2007) 100, 1416-1422

Maria José De Sousa-Majer, Darryl C. Hardie, Neil C. Turner and Thomas J.V. Higgins (2007)
Bean alpha-amylase inhibitors in transgenic peas inhibit development of pea weevil larvae
Journal of Economic Entomology 100 (4), 1416-1422
Abstract: This glasshouse study used an improved larval measurement procedure to evaluate the impact of transgenic pea, Pisum sativum L., seeds expressing alpha-amylase inhibitor (AI)-1 or -2 proteins on pea weevil, Bruchus pisorum L. Seeds of transgenic 'Laura' and 'Greenfeast' peas expressing alpha-(AI)-1 reduced pea weevil survival by 93-98%. Larval mortality occurred at an early instar. Conversely, in nontransgenic cultivars, ~ 98-99% of the pea weevils emerged as adults. By measuring the head capsule size, we determined that larvae died at the first to early third instar in alpha-(AI)-1 transgenic peas, indicating that this inhibitor is highly effective in controlling this insect. By contrast, transgenic Laura and 'Dundale' expressing alpha-(AI)-2 did not affect pea weevil survival, but they did delay larval development. After 77 d of development, the head capsule size indicated that the larvae were still at the third instar stage in transgenic alpha-(AI)-2 peas, whereas adult bruchids had developed in the nontransgenic peas.
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Database assignments for author(s): Maria José De Sousa-Majer, Thomas J.V. Higgins

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general
resistance/tolerance/defence of host

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Bruchus pisorum	Pea (Pisum sativum)