Open AccessDevelopment of a novel‐type transgenic cotton plant for control of cotton bollworm
Author(s) -
Yue Zhen,
Liu Xiaoguang,
Zhou Zijing,
Hou Guangming,
Hua Jinping,
Zhao Zhangwu
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/pbi.12534
Subject(s) - biology , transgene , helicoverpa armigera , genetically modified crops , pest analysis , bt cotton , bollworm , gene , larva , gossypium , botany , horticulture , agronomy , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
Summary The transgenic B t cotton plant has been widely planted throughout the world for the control of cotton budworm H elicoverpa armigera ( H ubner). However, a shift towards insect tolerance of B t cotton is now apparent. In this study, the gene encoding neuropeptide F ( NPF ) was cloned from cotton budworm H . armigera , an important agricultural pest. The npf gene produces two splicing m RNA variants— npf1 and npf2 (with a 120‐bp segment inserted into the npf1 sequence). These are predicted to form the mature NPF 1 and NPF 2 peptides, and they were found to regulate feeding behaviour. Knock down of larval npf with ds NPF in vitro resulted in decreases of food consumption and body weight, and ds NPF also caused a decrease of glycogen and an increase of trehalose. Moreover, we produced transgenic tobacco plants transiently expressing ds NPF and transgenic cotton plants with stably expressed ds NPF . Results showed that H . armigera larvae fed on these transgenic plants or leaves had lower food consumption, body size and body weight compared to controls. These results indicate that NPF is important in the control of feeding of H . armigera and valuable for production of potential transgenic cotton.