title: The first crop plant genetically engineered to release an insect pheromone for defence.
abstract: Insect pheromones offer potential for managing pests of crop plants. Volatility and instability are problems for deployment in agriculture but could be solved by expressing genes for the biosynthesis of pheromones in the crop plants. This has now been achieved by genetically engineering a hexaploid variety of wheat to release (E)-β-farnesene (Eβf), the alarm pheromone for many pest aphids, using a synthetic gene based on a sequence from peppermint with a plastid targeting amino acid sequence, with or without a gene for biosynthesis of the precursor farnesyl diphosphate. Pure Eβf was produced in stably transformed wheat lines with no other detectable phenotype but requiring targeting of the gene produced to the plastid. In laboratory behavioural assays, three species of cereal aphids were repelled and foraging was increased for a parasitic natural enemy. Although these studies show considerable potential for aphid control, field trials employing the single and double constructs showed no reduction in aphids or increase in parasitism. Insect numbers were low and climatic conditions erratic suggesting the need for further trials or a closer imitation, in the plant, of alarm pheromone release.
authors.affiliation: Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Toby J A
authors.initials: TJA
authors.lastname: Bruce
authors.affiliation: Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Gudbjorg I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Aradottir
authors.affiliation: Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Lesley E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Smart
authors.affiliation: Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Janet L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Caulfield
authors.affiliation: Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.affiliation: Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Caroline A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sparks
authors.affiliation: Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Woodcock
authors.affiliation: Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Birkett
authors.affiliation: Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Johnathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Napier
authors.affiliation: Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Huw D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pickett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000502:physiology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D051228:Geranyltranstransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010675:Pheromones / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018087:Plastids / Q000378:metabolism; D011755:Pyrophosphatases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D036226:Seedlings / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D014908:Triticum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D010675:Pheromones; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; C062671:beta-farnesene; D051228:Geranyltranstransferase; D011755:Pyrophosphatases; C109459:beta-farnesene synthase