BIOSAFETY STUDIES OF TRANSGENIC COTTON EXPRESSING INSECTICIDAL GENE FROM AUSTRALIAN FUNNEL WEB SPIDER (Hadronyche versuta)

摘要

Insect pests are one of the major factors affecting crop production and a variety of chemical insecticides are being used to control pests, but due to their hazardous nature there is a need of alternative options in the form of biological control. The biological insecticides obtained from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) has been introduced almost two decades ago but resistance against Bt in field population of insects has been reported. Recently a new class of biological toxin gene, omega -HXTX-Hv1a (Hvt) from the Australian funnel web spider Hadronyche versuta has been introduced into cotton. This study evaluated the possible adverse effects of Hvt gene containing transgenic cotton through risk assessment studies. It was observed that the transgenic cotton carrying functional Hvt gene has non-significant effect on reproductive (pollen morphology, longevity and fertility) and agronomic characteristics, plant germination and soil microflora as compared to non-Hvt cotton. Moreover, root, stem and leaf extracts of cotton expressing Hvt gene showed non-significant allelopathic effects on the germination of tobacco seeds. Standard germination and cold tests showed that there is no risk of weediness and aggressiveness of Hvt cotton. These findings conclude that the transgenic cotton expressing Hvt gene did not poses any considerable risks or harms to the plant morphology, physiology and its surrounding environment and might be useful candidate gene against Lepidopteron pests.