Molecular Breeding (1999) 5, 53-63

Fredy Altpeter, Isabel Diaz, Heather McAuslane, Kamel Gaddour, Pilar Carbonero and Indra K. Vasil (1999)
Increased insect resistance in transgenic wheat stably expressing trypsin inhibitor CMe
Molecular Breeding 5 (1), 53-63
Abstract: Proteinase inhibitors have been proposed to function as plant defence agents against herbivorous pests. We have introduced the barley trypsin inhibitor CMe (BTI-CMe) into wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by biolistic bombardment of cultured immature embryos. Of the 30 independent transgenic wheat lines selected, 16 expressed BTI-CMe. BTI-CMe was properly transcribed and translated as indicated by northern and western blot, with a level of expression in transgenic wheat seeds up to 1.1% of total extracted protein. No expression was detected in untransformed wheat seeds. Functional integrity of BTI-CMe was confirmed by trypsin inhibitor activity assay. The significant reduction of the survival rate of the Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella, Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), reared on transgenic wheat seeds expressing the trypsin inhibitor BTI-CMe, compared to the untransformed control confirmed the potential of BTI-CMe for the increase of insect resistance. However, only early-instar larvae were inhibited in transgenic seeds and expression of BTI-CMe protein in transgenic leaves did not have a significant protective effect against leaf-feeding insects.
(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): Heather J. McAuslane

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Sitotroga cerealella