ARS | Publication request: TOBACCO ANIONIC PEROXIDASE OFTEN INCREASES RESISTANCE TO INSECTS IN DIFFERENT DICOTYLEDONOUS SPECIES

Submitted to: Pesticide Science
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: January 29, 1999
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Different species and strains of tobacco (Nicotiana spp.), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), and sweetqum (Liquidambar styraciflua) that had total peroxidase activity enhanced by a few to over 100 fold through the expression of a tobacco anionic peroxidase gene driven by a cauliflower mosaic promoter were compared with wild type plants for resistance to relevant insects. Reduced levels of feeding were generally noticed for leaves, stems, and fruit, but the age of tissues and insects influenced the response. Enhanced resistance to Helicoverpa zea and Manduca sexta were noted for tobacco and tomato, and resistance to Hyphantria cunea and Lymantria dispar were noted for sweetgum. In several cases, increased mortality and/or reduced growth rates were noted for the high peroxidase plants. Although many modes of action are possible, indirect comparisons and gravitational nutritional studies suggest peroxidase enhanced rates of production of compounds toxic to the insects are the most important.