PJB-2018-1073
Effect of natural high temperature and flooding conditions on Cry1Ac gene expression in different transgenic Bt cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars
Samina Jam Nazeer Ahmad, Dilawar Majeed, Abid Ali, Muhammad Sufian, Zubair Aslam, Mujahid Manzoor and Jam Nazeer Ahmad
Abstract
A severe abiotic and biotic stress was faced to cotton growers in South Punjab due to high temperature and high rain fall occurred during 2014. In current study, variation in the Cry1Ac gene expression from samples collected from five Bt (IUB-212, CIM 616, CIM-598, Lalazar, FH-183 containing Cry1Ac insecticidal gene) and one non Bt cotton (MNH 786) cultivars cultivated in three districts (Multan, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar khan) of Southern Punjab were investigated. The investigated varieties were also cultivated under optimal greenhouses controlled conditions for expression analysis of Cry1Ac. The samples were taken to IGCDB laboratory for Cry1Ac gene expression analysis through quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA. The results indicated the abrupt variation in the expression of cry 1Ac gene in samples collected from environmental stressed districts of Punjab. Combined stress of high temperature and humidity variation resulted the down-regulation of Bt protein expression as compared to control greenhouse grown plants. The Bt cotton control efficacy was considerably reduced due to combined stress. It was concluded that reduced expression of Cry1Ac during 2014 was due to adverse environmental condition attributed to the degenerated levels of Bt endotoxin protein. This is the first report of the influence of abiotic stresses on the expressional variation in cry 1Ac and ultimately high infestation of insect pest on cotton in Pakistan.
To Cite this article:
Ahmad, S.J.N., D. Majeed, A. Ali, M. Sufian, Z. Aslam, M. Manzoor and J.N. Ahmad. Effect of natural high temperature and flooding conditions on Cry1Ac gene expression in different transgenic Bt cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars. Pak. J. Bot., 53(1): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2021-1(38)
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