Transformation of tobacco with genes encoding Helianthus tuberosus agglutinin (HTA) confers resistance to peach-potato aphid (Myzus persicae).

The effects of the hta gene encoding Helianthus tuberosus agglutinin (HTA) on an insect in the order Homoptera were investigated. Homologous cDNAs of hta-a, hta-b, hta-c and hta-d with CaMV35S as promoter were introduced into tobacco via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Southern blot results showed that the exogenous hta gene was inserted into the genome of host plants, and northern blot analysis confirmed that hta was expressed in transgenic plants. A bioassay with peach-potato aphid (Myzus persicae) demonstrated that transgenic plants had deleterious effects on the insect. The average population of aphids fed on transgenic T0 plants during an 11-day assay decreased by 70%, compared controls. In transgenic plants of T1 generation, aphid fecundity inhibitions were 53.0% (hta-b) and 64.6% (hta-c), respectively. The development of aphids was notably retarded. We conclude that hta could be a novel and promising candidate for plant transgenic engineering against homopteran insect pests.