ABSTRACT
Aphids are the major concern that significantly reduces the yield of crops. (E)-ß-farnesene (Eßf) is the principal component of the alarm pheromone of many aphids. The results of current research support the direct defense response of (E)-ß-farnesene (Eßf) against aphid Lipaphis erysimi (L.) Kaltenbach in Brassica juncea. Eßf gene was isolated from Mentha arvensis and transformed into B. juncea, showed direct repellent against aphid colonization. The seasonal mean population (SMP) recorded under field condition showed significantly higher aphid colonization in wild type in comparison to most of the transgenic lines, and shows positive correlation with the repellency of transgenic plant expressing (E)-ß-farnesene. The current research investigation provides direct evidence for aphid control in B. juncea using Eßf, a non-toxic mode of action.
Subject(s)
Aphids/physiology , Genes, Plant , Mustard Plant/genetics , Mustard Plant/parasitology , Sesquiterpenes/metabolism , Animals , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , Mustard Plant/growth & development , Plant Leaves/physiology , Plants, Genetically ModifiedABSTRACT
Canola is an important agricultural crop imparting a significant contribution to global oilseed production. As such, optimizing yield and quality is of paramount importance and canola production can be significantly affected by sclerotinia stem rot. The utility of recombinant antibody technology in plant protection has been explored by many researchers and shows promise for the generation of new lines of agriculturally significant crops with greater resistance to diseases. The objective of the current study was to generate recombinant pathogen specific antibody (scFv)-expressing transgenic Brassica napus plants with increased tolerance to the phytopathogenic fungus, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Transgenic canola (B. napus) lines expressing S. sclerotiorum-specific scFv antibody showed a significant level of tolerance towards S. sclerotiorum as compared to their non-transformed counterparts. Both incidence and progression of S. sclerotiorum-induced disease symptoms were reduced in plants expressing the recombinant scFv.
