Field performance of transgenic elite commercial hybrid rice expressing Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxin

Here we describe development of transgenic elite rice lines expressing a St fusion gene derived from cryIA(b) and cryIA(c) under the control of rice a cfinI promoter. The lines used in the study were indica CMS restorer line o f Minghui 63 and its derived hybrid rice Shanyou 63, The level of St fusion protein CryIA(b)/CryIA(c) detected in Minghui 63 (T51-1) plants was 20 ng/ mg soluble protein. The St Shanyou 63 was field-tested in natural and repea ted heavy manual infestation of two lepidopteran insects, leaffolder and ye llow stem borer. The transgenic hybrid plants showed high protection agains t both insect pests without reduced yield.