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Phloem-specific expression of the lectin gene from Allium sativum confers resistance to the sap-sucker Nilaparvata lugens

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Abstract

Rice production is severely hampered by insect pests. Garlic lectin gene (ASAL) holds great promise in conferring protection against chewing (lepidopteran) and sap-sucking (homopteran) insect pests. We have developed transgenic rice lines resistant to sap-sucking brown hopper (Nilaparvata lugens) by ectopic expression of ASAL in their phloem tissues. Molecular analyses of T0 lines confirmed stable integration of transgene. T1 lines (NP 1-2, 4-3, 11-6 & 17-7) showed active transcription and translation of ASAL transgene. ELISA revealed ASAL expression was as high as 0.95 % of total soluble protein. Insect bioassays on T2 homozygous lines (NP 18 & 32) revealed significant reduction (~74–83 %) in survival rate, development and fecundity of brown hoppers in comparison to wild type. Transgenics exhibited enhanced resistance (1–2 score) against brown hoppers, minimal plant damage and no growth penalty or phenotypic abnormalities.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, New Delhi for the financial assistance. We thank Dr. Bentur, Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad for providing brown hoppers required for insect bioassays on transgenic plants.

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Correspondence to Tanushri Kaul.

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10529_2014_1459_MOESM1_ESM.tif

Supplementary Fig. 1 Immunohistochemical localization of ASAL in transgenic plant probed with anti-ASAL primary antibody and HRP conjugated anti-rabbit IgG secondary antibody. Stem sections of (a) control plant, (b) homozygous T2 –NP 18 line (progeny of T1-NP 1-2) showing transgene expression only in phloem tissue. (TIF 14 kb)

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Chandrasekhar, K., Vijayalakshmi, M., Vani, K. et al. Phloem-specific expression of the lectin gene from Allium sativum confers resistance to the sap-sucker Nilaparvata lugens . Biotechnol Lett 36, 1059–1067 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-014-1459-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-014-1459-8

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