Assessment of potato proteinase inhibitor-II gene as an antifungal and insecticidal agent

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the protection role of potato proteinase inhibitor-II gene against insect and fungal pathogens of cotton. The positive integration of pinII was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and Southern analysis in transgenic tobacco plants. In insect bioassay, the transgenic lines were more resistant to cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) and caused insect mortality and severe growth inhibition. Expression against Rhizoctonia implicated a pivotal role of this gene in defence towards pathogens. Potato proteinase inhibitor-II had shown significant expression against insect as well as fungal pathogens and suggests the role of pinII in engineering insect/pathogen-resistant plants.

Keywords:

• Bt
• Helicoverpa armigera
• pinII
• Rhizoctonia
• tobacco

Acknowledgements

We express our sincere thanks to Dr. Ray Wu for providing the pRW1 construct. The Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and Technology, Pakistan supported this research.