DEVELOPMENT OF INSECT RESISTANCE IN TOMATO PLANTS EXPRESSING THE DELTA-ENDOTOXIN GENE OF BACILLUS-THURINGIENSIS SUBSP TENEBRIONIS

A crystal delta-endotoxin gene of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. tenebr ionis (B.t.t.) encoding a coleopteran insect-specific toxin was used t o construct a chimeric gene which expressed the toxin in plant cells. Via an Agrobacterium tumefaciens binary vector system, the toxin gene was transferred into tomato cells. From leaf disks recombinant plants were regenerated. Hybridization experiments demonstrated that these pl ants synthesized toxin-specific mRNA of the expected size. Transgenic tomato plants with the chimeric B.t.t. toxin gene contained a 74 kDa p rotein which cross-reacted with toxin antibodies. The expression cause d a significant insecticidal activity of the transgenic tomato plants against Colorado potato beetle larvae.