Transgenic tomato plants resistant to fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera Hubner)

A synthetic cry1Ac gene coding for an insecticidal crystal protein (ICP) of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) was transferred to tomato by cocultivating cot yledonary explants with Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Transformant plants resi stant to kanamycin were regenerated. Hybridization experiments demonstrated gene integration and gene copy number in the transgenic plants. Double-ant ibody sandwich ELISA analysis revealed high levels of Bt ICP expression in the leaves of transgenic plants. The expression resulted in a high level of protection of transgenic plant leaves and fruits against the larvae of tom ato fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera). Limited field trial of the transgen ic plants (T-1 generation) confirmed the high levels of insect protection. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.