ARS | Publication request: Heliocides as markers in selection of insect resistant cotton varieties

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: January 10, 2011
Publication Date: March 25, 2011
Citation: Uzbekov, V., Veshkurova, O., Abdurakhimov, R., Namazov, S., Stipanovic, R.D., Salikhov, S. 2011. Heliocides as markers in selection of insect resistant cotton varieties. 2011 VI Moscow International Congress Biotechnology: State of the Airt and Prospects of Development, March 21,2011, Moscow. p.53.

Technical Abstract: Development of insect resistance cotton varieities is an important goal in cotton genetics and in making selections in breeding programs. Presently, the use of genetically modified cottons containing Bt genes derived from the soil bacterium Bacillus thurengensis, are extensively utilized. An alternative to genetic-engineering techniques, is to focus on selecting plants that exhibit natural resistance to insects. In the case of cotton, a series of insect-toxic substances have been identified. We are investigating if the concentration of these endogenous compounds can be used to select cotton lines with high levels of insect resistance. The first identified insect-toxin in cotton was the sesquiterpenoid gossypol. However, more recent investigations by American scientists revealed a new class of gossypol-related compounds in cotton leaves and buds. These compounds demonstrate antifeedant activity to caterpillars of the Heliothis family; these compounds, which show a better correclation with insect resistance than gossypol, are referred to as "heliocides". Using HPLC methods, it is possible to simultaneiously determine the concentrations of heliocides H1-H4, their precursors hemigossypolone, and their 7-methyl ether derivatives (i.e., heliocides B1 B4 and 7-methozyhemigossypolone) in cotton tissues. Using this technique, the concentration of these substances in 10 commercial Uzbek cotton lines were investigated. Analysis of this database has allowed us to make correlations between concentrations of heliocides and plant resistance to insects. We found that the concentration of heliocides is a good criterion to evaluate the potential insect resistance of cotton varieties in a breeding program. Acknowledgement: This work was supported by CRDF Project UZB2-31001-TA-08