Selection,effective dominance,and completeness of Cry1A.105/Cry2Ab2 dual-protein resistance in Helicoverpa zea(Boddie)(Lepidoptera:Noctuidae)

In the U.S.,Helicoverpa zea(Boddie)is a major pest targeted by both transgenic maize and cotton expressing Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)proteins.Resistance of insect to Bt maize and cotton containing cry1A and cry2A genes has widely occurred in the U.S.In this study,two trials were performed to investigate larval survival and development of a Cry1A.105/Cry2Ab2 dual-protein resistant(VT2P-RR),a susceptible,and an F1 heterozygous(VT2P-RS)populations of H.zea on ears of nine Bt and three non-Bt maize hybrids.The Bt maize hybrids evaluated represent five common pyramided traits expressing two or three of the Cry1A.105,Cry1Ab,Cry1F,Cry2Ab2,and Vip3Aa20 proteins.In the laboratory,neonates of the three H.zea populations were inoculated on silks of ears collected from maize at R1-R2 plant stages;and larval survivorship was checked 10 d after neonate release.All three insect populations survived normally on non-Bt maize ears.Varied numbers of VT2P-RR and VT2P-RS survived on ears of Cry1A.105/Cry2Ab2 maize,while all larvae of the three populations died or could not develop on ears of Vip3Aa20-expressing maize.The results demonstrated that the dual-protein resistant H.zea was not cross-resistant to Vip3Aa20-expressing maize,and thus traits with vip3Aa20 gene should be effective to manage Cry1A.105/Cry2Ab2-resistant H.zea.The resistance in VT2P-RR was determined to be incomplete on Cry1A.105/Cry2Ab2 maize.The effective dominance levels varied greatly,from recessive to incompletely dominant,depending on maize hybrids and trials,suggesting that proper selection of maize hybrids could be important for mitigating the Cry1A.105/Cry2Ab2 resistance.The data generated should aid in modeling multiple-protein Bt resistance in H.zea.

Insect resistance management in Bacillus thuringiensis cotton by MGPS(multiple genes pyramiding and silencing)

The introduction of Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)cotton has reduced the burden of pests without harming the environment and human health.However,the efficacy of Bt cotton has decreased due to field-evolved resistance in insect pests over time.In this review,we have discussed various factors that facilitate the evolution of resistance in cotton pests.Currently,different strategies like pyramided cotton expressing two or more distinct Bt toxin genes,refuge strategy,releasing of sterile insects,and gene silencing by RNAi are being used to control insect pests.Pyramided cotton has shown resistance against different cotton pests.The multiple genes pyramiding and silencing(MGPS)approach has been proposed for the management of cotton pests.The genome information of cotton pests is necessary for the development of MGPS-based cotton.The expression cassettes against various essential genes involved in defense,detoxification,digestion,and development of cotton pests will successfully obtain favorable agronomic characters for crop protection and production.The MGPS involves the construction of transformable artificial chromosomes,that can express multiple distinct Bt toxins and RNAi to knockdown various essential target genes to control pests.The evolution of resistance in cotton pests will be delayed or blocked by the synergistic action of high dose of Bt toxins and RNAi as well as compliance of refuge requirement.

Whole-genome sequencing to detect mutations associated with resistance to insecticides and Bt proteins in Spodoptera frugiperda

The fall armyworm(FAW),Spodoptera frugiperda,is a major pest native to the Americas that has recently invaded the Old World.Point mutations in the target-site proteins acetylcholinesterase-1(ace-1),voltage-gated sodium channel(VGSC)and ryanodine receptor(RyR)have been identified in S.frugiperda as major resistance mechanisms to organophosphate,pyrethroid and diamide insecticides respectively.Mutations in the adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter C2 gene(ABCC2)have also been identified to confer resistance to Cry IF protein.In this study,we applied a whole-genome sequencing(WGS)approach to identify point mutations in the target-site genes in 150 FAW individuals collected from China,Malawi,Uganda and Brazil.This approach revealed three amino acid substitutions(A201S,G227A and F290V)of S.frugiperda ace-1,which are known to be associated with organophosphate resistance.The Brazilian population had all three ace-1 point mutations and the 227A allele(mean frequency=0.54)was the most common.Populations from China,Malawi and Uganda harbored two of the three ace-1 point mutations(A201S and F290V)with the 290V allele(0.47-0.58)as the dominant allele.Point mutations in VGSC(T929I,L932F and L1014F)and RyR(I4790M and G4946E)were not detected in any of the 150 individuals.A novel 12-bp insertion mutation in exon 15 of the ABCC2 gene was identified in some of the Brazilian individuals but absent in the invasive populations.Our results not only demonstrate robustness of the WGS-based genomic approach for detection of resistance mutations,but also provide insights for improvement of resistance management tactics in S.frugiperda.