TRANSGENIC PEA-SEEDS EXPRESSING THE ALPHA-AMYLASE INHIBITOR OF THE COMMON BEAN ARE RESISTANT TO BRUCHID BEETLES

Infestations of stored legume seeds by bruchid beetles, such as the co wpea weevil and the Azuki bean weevil cause substantial economic and n utritional losses of these food crops, especially in developing countr ies. Seeds of the common bean are resistant to these bruchids largely because of the presence of alpha-amylase inhibitor (alpha AI-Pv), a se ed protein that is toxic to the larvae. The alpha AI-Pv gene is theref ore a candidate for a genetic engineering approach that would make oth er legumes (pea, chickpea, cowpea, Azuki bean) resistant to bruchid in festations. We tested this possibility by transforming peas (Pisum sat ivum) with the alpha AI-Pv gene driven by a strong seed-specific promo ter. The levels of alpha AI protein in the pea seeds were as high as i n bean seeds and the peas were resistant to the cowpea and Azuki bean weevils.