Transgenic Wheat Expressing Avidin Gene Shows Resistance to Wheat Weevil
July 22, 2015| |
The wheat weevil Sitophilus granarius is a serious insect pest in wheat growing areas worldwide and is responsible for significant loss of yield. Previous studies have found that avidin proteins function as plant defense agents against insect pests.
A team researchers led by Dr. Ahmed Bahieldin, a faculty for both the King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia and the Ain Shams University in Egypt, introduced a synthetic avidin gene into spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Giza 168. The presence and expression of the transgene in selected transgenic wheat lines were confirmed at the molecular level.
Accumulation of avidin protein was detected in transgenic plants compared to non-transgenic plants. Analysis also found that the avidin transgene was expressed at a high level in transgenic wheat seeds. Functional integrity of avidin was also confirmed as transgenic wheat plants infested with wheat weevil after 21 days caused 100% mortality on the reared insects.
For more information, read the full study on BMC Plant Biology.
| |
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- USDA FAS Releases GAIN Reports on Agri-biotech for Several Countries
- Thomson Explains Slow Adoption of GM Crops in Africa
- Partnership to Create Second Soybean Reference Genome
- USDA APHIS Releases EA and PPRA of MON 87403 for Public Comment and Review
- Factors Affecting Melon Genome Evolution Identified
- EMR Scientists Find Genetic Markers of Wilt Resistance Genes in Strawberry
- Two GM Crops Endorsed for Import Approval in the EU
-
Research Highlights
- Thanatin Confers Partial Resistance against Aspergillus Infections in Maize
- Transgenic Wheat Expressing Avidin Gene Shows Resistance to Wheat Weevil
- Dwarf Phenotype Enables Growth of More Plant Factories in a Given Space
-
Beyond Crop Biotech
- Self-limiting Gene Controls Invasive Moth Sans Pesticides
- Yeast Responds to the Environment by Optimizing its Genome
-
Announcements
- International Conference on Advances in Bioprocess Engineering and Technology
-
Resources
- Infographics: Crop Modification Techniques
- Infographics: Chemical Crop Protection and GM Seed Industries in 2014
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (April 17, 2024)
- Gene Editing Supplement (April 10, 2024)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet