AUTHOR=Xu Chen , Wei Hui , Wang Like , Yin Tongming , Zhuge Qiang 

TITLE=Optimization of the cry1Ah1 Sequence Enhances the Hyper-Resistance of Transgenic Poplars to Hyphantria cunea

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2019.00335

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2019.00335

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Increased expression of the insect control protein genes of <italic>Bacillus thuringiensis</italic> in <italic>Populus</italic> has been critical to the development of genetically improved plants with agronomically acceptable levels of insect resistance. <italic>Bacillus thuringiensis</italic> (<italic>Cry1Ah1</italic>) proteins with highly specific toxicity against <italic>Hyphantria cunea</italic> were screened using an indoor bioactivity assay to obtain hyper-resistant transgenic poplars. Then, the <italic>Cry1Ah1</italic> sequence was optimized and transformed according to the optimal codon in poplar using software of our own design (<ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://120.79.60.226:8080/u/chen/w/codonpoplar" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">http://120.79.60.226:8080/u/chen/w/codonpoplar</ext-link>). A vector was constructed to transform poplar NL895. The <italic>Cry1Ah1</italic> gene was transformed to poplar NL895 and six transgenic lines were obtained. The expression and insecticidal effect of the <italic>Cry1Ah1</italic> gene in transgenic poplar were evaluated by PCR and ELISA, and the specific indoor activity and field insecticidal activity against <italic>H</italic>. <italic>cunea</italic> were compared with a control. We concluded that the insecticidal activity of the transgenic NL895 was significantly better against lower instar larvae of <italic>H. cunea</italic> than against higher instar larvae. The mortality and pupation rates clearly differed among the various instar larvae and between transgenic and non-transgenic poplar. We obtained poplar seedlings with hyper-resistance to <italic>H</italic>. <italic>cunea</italic> by screening Bt genes and optimizing their genetic sequence.</p>