SCMV-based Overexpression of Insecticidal Proteins in Maize and Evaluation of their Effects against Fall Armyworm

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol

2 Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

3 Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman

4 Biotechnology and plant breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

5 Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Ithaca, NY, USA

10.22103/jab.2024.22853.1547

Abstract

Objectives: Zea maiys L. is a key cereal worldwide which its yield is threatened severely by numerous herbivorous insects such as notorious fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda Smith.). Current management strategies are basically depended upon costly and time-consuming methods such as chemicals and transgenic maize plants resulted in resistant pest populations in addition to health and environmental concerns. Transient In-planta expression of novel insecticidal proteins using viral vectors can explore the most efficient candidates against fall armyworm under time-saving, cost-effective and more real conditions. Present study aimed to investigate the effects of three insecticidal proteins including PTA (Pinellia ternata agglutinin), OAIP-1 and NcIa (toxins derived from two spiders’ venom) against fall armyworm using Sugarcane Mosaic Virus vector.
Materials and Methods: Coding sequences of considered insecticidal proteins were inserted into pSCMV vector between P1 and HC-Pro and recombinant constructs agroinjeced into maize seedlings. Successful overexpression of the proteins was confirmed by RT-PCR and qRT-PCR. In-planta insect bioassays were performed and weight gain of fall armyworm larvae was compared between infected and control plants after seven and 14 days of feeding.
Results: Overexpression of foreign genes was confirmed by RT-PCR and qRT-PCR results. Results of in planta insect bioassays showed that SCMV-based overexpression of insecticidal proteins in maize plants caused a statically significant reduction in weight gain of fall armyworm larvae in comparison with controls. After seven of feeding on plants expressing NcIa and PTA and OAIP-1 larval weight showed a reduction by 52, 54 and 31%, respectively, in comparison with GFP expressing plants. These results were stable after two weeks of larval feeding for two spider toxins but declined to 31% for PTA.
Conclusion: In conclusion, under in planta condition, PTA, NcIa and OAIP-1 were efficiently affected fall armyworm growth. They could be considered individually or in fusions (lectin- spider toxin) for further investigations to engineer maize resistance to fall armyworm.

Keywords

References

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Agricultural Biotechnology Journal
Volume 16, Issue 4
January 2025
Pages 49-76

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