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Project Leader: Elizabeth Earle (Dept. of Plant Breeding, Cornell University, Ithaca,
NY)
Cooperators:
Mark Farnham (USDA-ARS-U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, Charleston, SC)
Brian Nault (Dept. of Entomology, NYSAES-Geneva)
Anu Rangarajan (Dept. of Horticulture, Cornell University, Ithaca
NY)
Tony Shelton (Dept. of Entomology, NYSAES)
Type of Grant: Pest-resistant crops; Biological control and pest biology
Project location: Wherever cabbage is grown. The general principle being tested (Bt-trap
crops) is relevant nationally and internationally.
Abstract:
This work seeks to protect crops from insect pests by combining
approaches from biological control and biotechnology. More specifically,
it aims to protect cabbage from diamondback moths (DBM) through
use of a collard trap crop expressing insect-resistance genes from
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Previous reports indicated that
DBM laid more eggs on collard plants than on cabbage; however, the
larvae that hatch from these eggs survive to damage crucifer crops.
Bt-transgenic collard plants would attract DBM egg-laying and would
also kill the hatched larvae, providing more effective insect control
in a mixed field of cabbage and collard. We have introduced two
different Bt genes (cry1Aand cry1C) into the collard
varieties “Champion” (non-glossy leaves) and “McCormackÕs
Green Glaze” (glossy leaves). Lines that are highly toxic
to DBM larvae have been identified. Seeds have been recovered from
self-pollination of these plants. We have also obtained progeny
from crosses between cry1Aand cry1C plants in order
to pyramid the two Bt genes. Seeds recovered from pollination of
cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) cabbage with pollen from cry1C plants
are a first step toward production of CMS Bt-collard, which would
eliminate problems of transgenic pollen flow. Initial tests of DBM
egg-laying on the Bt plants and control plants indicate that the
glossy collards are more attractive to the moths than non-glossy
collards. The seeds already in hand and others currently being produced
provide the material needed for greenhouse and field tests of the
effectiveness of Bt trap crops. In addition we have produced Bt
Indian mustard (Brassica juncea“Green Wave”)
as an additional possible Bt-trap crop.
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