Pest Management Science (2017) 73, 1197-1203

Zhou Zhou, Yongli Li, Chunyan Yuan, Daniel Doucet, Yongan Zhang and Liangjian Qu (2017)
Overexpression of TAT-PTD–diapause hormone fusion protein in tobacco and its effect on the larval development of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Pest Management Science 73 (6), 1197-1203
Abstract:
BACKGROUND
The diapause hormone (DH) has been shown either to induce or to terminate diapause, depending on the insect species. In a previous study we demonstrated that the DH from Clostera anastomosis (caDH) has biological activity in Helicoverpa armigera, which prompted us to examine the potential growth-inhibiting or antiherbivory effects of the TAT-caDH fusion protein when expressed in transgenic plants.
RESULTS
In this study, we produced transgenic tobacco plants expressing either the TAT-caDH protein or a TAT-caDH–eGFP fusion version that allowed tracking of the fluorescent protein in plant tissues. Our results indicate that H. armigera larvae feeding on transgenic tobacco expressing TAT-caDH exhibited a significantly reduced survival rate and weight gain. However, larvae feeding on transgenic tobacco expressing TAT-caDH–eGFP were unaffected. While fusion of the eGFP gene influenced the bioactivity of caDH in larvae, TAT-caDH–eGFP can still penetrate the insect midgut cell membrane.
CONCLUSION
TAT-caDH increases DH stability in oral delivery. Our results may help in targeting DH-dependent physiological processes in insects for improving herbivore tolerance in economically important crops.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Daniel Doucet, Yong-An Zhang

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Helicoverpa armigera