The Expression of Cry1ac In Gossypium Hirsutum Against Chewing Insects Via Agrobacterium Mediated Genetic Transformation

Abstract

Babur Ali Akbar, Muhammad Awais Arshad, Muhammad Huzaifa Mahmood, Nadia Iqbal, Muhammad Faisal, Muhammad Umar, Saba Khan, Farwah Murtaza, Shah Rukh, Muhammad Usman Hayat and Hafiz Muhammad Aftab Ayoub

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), a crop of immense global economic importance, faces substantial yield and quality losses due to insect pests such as Spodoptera exigua and Pectinophora gossypiella. Conventional pesticide strategies are increasingly unsustainable owing to environmental concerns, economic inefficiencies, and pest resistance. This study investigates the potential of cry1Ac, a gene derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), in developing insect-resistant transgenic cotton. Utilizing Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, cry1Ac was introduced into cotton under the regulation of a wound-inducible promoter (AoPR1), enabling localized expression and mitigating ecological risks associated with constitutive expression. Molecular analyses confirmed successful gene integration and expression, while bioassays demonstrated enhanced resistance, with transgenic lines achieving 80–90% pest mortality compared to negligible effects in controls. Insights into resistance mechanisms, including mutations in pest cadherin genes such as PgCad1, were explored alongside emerging RNA interference (RNAi)-based approaches for resistance management. Field evaluations corroborated the effectiveness of transgenic cotton in controlling target pests, while also identifying challenges posed by non-target pest adaptations and climatic variability. This research underscores the significance of wound-inducible promoters and integrative pest management strategies, offering a sustainable framework for developing resilient cotton varieties capable of addressing evolving pest pressures.

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