ARS | Publication request: Genetic transformation mediated by piggyBac in the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Submitted to: Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: April 25, 2012
Publication Date: June 13, 2012
Citation: Liu, D., Yan, S., Stanley, D.W., Song, Q., Huang, Y., Tan, A. 2012. Genetic transformation mediated by piggyBac in the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. 80:140-150.

Interpretive Summary: Long-term agricultural sustainability is severely threatened by widespread use of classical insecticides. Threats include increasing resistance to insecticides and sharply decreasing environmental quality. Insect pests consume or destroy about 15 percent of the world’s human food production, which is driving research to invent and develop new insect pest management technologies. Recent advances in basic knowledge of insect genetics provide the basis for new pest control strategies, particularly genetic control strategies. In this paper we report on introduction and expression of a specific gene in the Asian corn borer. This work lays the necessary groundwork for genetic control of Asian corn borers and related pests of corn. Research scientists will use this finding to develop similar approaches to control of large crop systems. Ultimately, this research will benefit growers who produce major food crops and the people who consume healthier foods.

Technical Abstract: The Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis, is a serious pest of corn, sorghum and cotton in China and other Asian countries. The present study is the first attempt to establish the transgenic line in O. furnacalis using a piggyBac transposon, which will shed light on the future genetic control of O. furnacalis. A piggyBac vector pBac[A3EGFP] was constructed to express enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) under the control of Bombyx mori actin3 promoter. Transient EGFP expression was detected at 48h after preblastodermic microinjection of pBac[A3EGFP] and the excision assay showed the transgenic vector was precisely excised. In G1 animals, PCR-based investigations revealed that the exogenous vector had been introduced into O. furnacalis genome and expressed at the transcriptional level. Western blot analysis showed EGFP expression at the protein level, indicating the heritability of the transgene.