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Expression of garlic leaf lectin under the control of the phloem‐specific promoter Asus 1 from Arabidopsis thaliana protects tobacco plants against the tobacco aphid ( Myzus nicotianae )
Author(s) -
Sadeghi Amin,
Broeders Sylvia,
De Greve Henri,
Hernalsteens JeanPierre,
Peumans Willy J,
Van Damme Els JM,
Smagghe Guy
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.1455
Subject(s) - biology , nicotiana tabacum , myzus persicae , aphid , bioassay , phloem , botany , population , phaseolus , aphididae , allium sativum , nymph , horticulture , arabidopsis thaliana , nicotiana , genetically modified crops , solanaceae , transgene , homoptera , biochemistry , pest analysis , genetics , gene , sociology , mutant , demography
BACKGROUND: To check for correlation between the insecticidal properties and the specificity of lectins, a comparative study was made of the insecticidal activities of two garlic lectins with different biological activities. RESULTS: The insecticidal activity of the garlic ( Allium sativum L.) leaf lectin ASAL and bulb lectin ASAII towards the tobacco aphid Myzus nicotianae Blackman was studied using bioassays with transgenic tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Wisconsin 38). Bioassays were started with newborn nymphs of the tobacco aphid. Although during the first 7–8 days when nymphs developed to adults there were no apparent effects, part of the nymphal population was found to develop into winged (alate) forms. Later it became clear that transgenic plants expressing ASAL and ASAII had a significant effect on the reproduction capacity of the resulting adults, with a reduction of up to 40%. Different life table parameters such as prereproductive time, intrinsic rate of natural increase, generation time and doubling time were significantly affected ( P < 0.05) in aphids grown on transgenic plant material expressing ASAL and ASAII. CONCLUSION: Bioassays with tobacco plants expressing ASAL and ASAII demonstrated a significant impact on the population growth of M. nicotianae . Therefore, both lectins can be considered as valuable candidate aphid control agents. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry