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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #300735
Title: Impaired growth and development of Colorado potato beetle larvae on potato plants overexpressing the oryzacystatin II gene

Author
item CINGEL, ALEKSANDAR - University Of Belgrade
item SAVIC, JELENA - University Of Belgrade
item VINTERHALTER, BRANKA - University Of Belgrade
item VINTERHALTER, DRAGAN - University Of Belgrade
item KOSTIC, MIROSLAV - University Of Belgrade
item Smigocki, Anna
item NINKOVIC, SLAVICA - University Of Belgrade

Submitted to: Transgenic Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/23/2015
Publication Date: 3/29/2015
Citation: Cingel, A., Savic, J., Vinterhalter, B., Vinterhalter, D., Kostic, M., Smigocki, A.C., Ninkovic, S. 2015. Impaired growth and development of Colorado potato beetle larvae on potato plants overexpressing the oryzacystatin II gene. Transgenic Research. DOI: 10.1007/s11248-015-9873-9.

Interpretive Summary: Potato cultivars with excellent growth, yield, cooking and nutritional quality are highly susceptible to attack by herbivours insect pests, particularly the Colorado potato beetle (CPB). To improve insect resistance in potato, several potato varieties were modified with a beneficial insect resistance trait (OCII gene) isolated from rice. Larvae fed on the genetically modified potato leaves were not killed but their growth and development was altered. The larvae consumed less food (up to 23%) and had lower maximal weights (up to 17.6%) than larvae feeding on unmodified leaves. Reduction in larval fitness is important for designing effective strategies to control insect pests. Scientists will use this information to develop new varieties of plants that are more resistant to insects.

Technical Abstract: Plant proteinase inhibitors are attractive tools for crop improvement and their heterologous expression can enhance insect resistance in transgenic plants. Oryzacystatins I and II (OCI and OCII) show potential in controlling pests that utilize cysteine proteinases for protein digestion. To evaluate the aplicability of the OCII gene in enhancing plant defence, OCII-transformed potatoes were bioassayed for resistance to Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say). During the L2 and L3 larval developmental stages, larvae consumed significantly more of the OCII-transformed foliage per day as compared to the nontransformed control, and reached the prepupal stage (end of L4 stage) two days earlier than those fed on control leaves. Overall at the prepupal stage, the larvae that were fed OCII-transformed leaves consumed up to 23% fewer leaves and their maximal weights were reduced by up to 18% as compared to larvae on control potato leaves. Colorado potato beetle larvae fed with leaves of three potato cultivars (Desiree, Jelica and Dragacevka) that express the oryzacystatin II (OCII) gene had significantly impaired growth and development, but unchanged mortality rates. These results suggest that the OCII gene should prove useful for targeting CPB larvae on potato plants.