INSERTION OF THE BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS CRYSTAL PROTEIN GENE INTO PLANT-COLONIZING MICROORGANISM AND THEIR USE

摘要

The invention relates to genetically engineered plant-colonizing microorganisms which proliferate in symbiotic or non-detrimental relationships with the plant in the plant environment. Such microorganisms contain DNA derived from Bacillus thuringiensis which codes for the insecticidal crystal protein toxin. The engineered plant-colonizing microorganisms of the invention and their progeny are active against a variety of lepidopterous pests. The invention further relates to the use of such plant-colonizing microorganisms in a method of killing or inhibiting lepidopterous pests and to insecticidal compositions containing the plant-colonizing microorganism as the active insecticidal agent.