Susceptibility of agricultural pests of regional importance in South America to a Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ia protein

BERRETTA MARCELO FACUNDO; PEREZ MELISA PAULA; PEDARROS ANALIA SOLEDAD; ONCO MARÍA INÉS; SAUKA DIEGO HERNAN; BENINTENDE GRACIELA BEATRIZ

JOURNAL OF INVERTEBRATE PATHOLOGY

ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2020 vol. 172

0022-2011

Bacillus thuringiensis toxins of the Cry1I class have dual specificity for insects in the orders Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. We assessed the toxicity of a Cry1Ia protein from an Argentinian B. thuringiensis strain against agricultural pest in the families Tenebrionidae, Curculionidae, Noctuidae and Tortricidae. Three recombinant protein variants were produced that differed in length and fusion tag position to rule out artifactual results. The protein was toxic to Cydia pomonella and Rachiplusia nu. In contrast, Alphitobius diaperinus, Anthonomus grandis and Spodoptera frugiperda were not susceptible. The results are discussed with respect to previous studies and the prospective use of Cry1Ia in strategies to control major cotton pests in the region.