title: Phloem-specific expression of the lectin gene from Allium sativum confers resistance to the sap-sucker Nilaparvata lugens.
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.
authors.affiliation: Plant Molecular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India.
authors.forename: Kottakota
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chandrasekhar
authors.forename: Muvva
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vijayalakshmi
authors.forename: Kalasamudramu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vani
authors.forename: Tanushri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaul
authors.forename: Malireddy K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005737:Garlic / Q000235:genetics*; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000187:drug effects*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology; D052585:Phloem / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D037121:Plant Lectins