Transgenic sugarcane for the sustainable management of the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis

BUDEGUER, F; RACEDO, J; ENRIQUE, R; PERERA, M. F.; OSTENGO, S; NOGUERA, AS

Congreso; XXXI ISSCT Congress; 2023

The sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis is a major pest of sugarcane (Saccharumspp. hybrids) in the Americas. The insect is partially controlled by cultural,biological, and chemical methods, but still causes significant economic lossesto sugarcane growers and processors. Currently, one of the most efficientstrategies for pest control in other crops is the use of transgenic plantsharbouring genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which encodecrystalline proteins (Cry and/or Vip) with insecticidal activity, known as Btgenes/proteins. In sugarcane, the expression of individual Bt proteins has beenpreviously reported, but not the stacking of two or more Bt proteins. In thisstudy, Bt genes were incorporated by microprojectile bombardment intoembryogenic sugarcane calli of the clones TUC 95-10 and TUC 03-12. The presenceof the transgenes in 33 transgenic lines was verified by using PCR assays.Subsequently, transgenic lines were acclimated and multiplied in the greenhouseto generate vegetative material for their phenotypic and molecular assessments.The expression levels of transcripts in candidate lines were quantified by realtime quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) assays. In conclusion, transgenic sugarcanelines with a higher level of expression of Bt transcripts compared with thecontrol were developed. These promising lines will be used for futurephenotypic tests to determine their resistance against D. saccharalis.