Inheritance and expression analyses of cry1Ab gene in transgenic pigeonpea tolerant to Maruca pod borer

Abstract

Development of transgenic crops with stable gene inheritance and expression over generations is important for effective deployment at field level.In present study, T 1 plants of pigeonpea cultivars AL15 and AL201 were evaluated for the presence and expression of cry1Ab gene and protection against Maruca pod borer. Cry1Ab protein in transgene carrying T 1 plants ranged from 0.72 to 0.87 µg g-1 flower tissue. In vitro insect bioassay demonstrated up to 49.17 and 53.80% loss in larval body weight after four days of infesting T 1 transgenic flowers and pods, respectively. Further, no adults emerged from the pupae of larvae fed on transgenic plants 15-537 and 201-344. All T 2 progeny plants of 15-537 exhibited cry1Ab presence; likewise, all T 3 progeny plants derived from homozygous T 2 plant (15-537-5) displayed presence and expression of transgene, thus establishing stable transgene integration in T 1 plants, followed by its stable inheritance and expression in T 2 and T 3 generations.