Improved Carica papaya tolerance to carmine spider mite by the expression of Manduca sexta chitinase transgene.

Abstract

Papaya plants producing the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) chitinase protein were obtained following microprojectile bombardment of embryogenic calli derived from the hypocotyls of the cultivar Kapoho. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out to confirm the presence of the transgene. RT-PCR and a quantitative chitinase assay showed increased levels of chitinase activity in every selected transgenic line. Insect bioassays in the laboratory showed that plants expressing the Manduca sexta chitinase gene significantly inhibited multiplication of carmine spider mites (Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisd.). Experiments conducted to evaluate reaction of the transgenic plants to natural infection by carmine spider mites showed that the Manduca sexta chitinase gene provided increased tolerance under field conditions.

• Authors: Heather R K McCafferty, Paul H Moore, Yun J Zhu
• Journal: Transgenic research (Transgenic Res) Vol. 15 Issue 3 Pg. 337-47 (Jun 2006) ISSN: 0962-8819 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 16779649 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Naphthaleneacetic Acids
• Kanamycin Kinase
• Chitinases

Topics

• Animals
• Biological Assay
• Carica (genetics)
• Chitinases (genetics, metabolism)
• Genetic Techniques
• Insecta
• Kanamycin Kinase (genetics)
• Manduca (enzymology)
• Naphthaleneacetic Acids (pharmacology)
• Plant Diseases (genetics)
• Plants, Genetically Modified
• Plasmids (metabolism)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Tetranychidae
• Transgenes