Transgenic avidin maize is resistant to storage insect pests

Avidin is a glycoprotein found in chicken egg white, that sequesters the vi tamin biotin. Here we show that when present in maize at levels of greater than or equal to 100 p.p.m., avidin is toxic to and prevents development of insects that damage grains during storage. Insect toxicity is caused by a biotin deficiency, as shown by prevention of toxicity with biotin supplemen tation. The avidin maize is not, however, toxic to mice when administered a s the sole component of their diet for 21 days, These dates suggest that av idin expression in food or feed grain crops can be used as a biopesticide a gainst a spectrum of stored-produce insect pests.