Bean α-Amylase Inhibitors in Transgenic Peas Inhibit Development of Pea Weevil Larvae

Abstract This glasshouse study used an improved larval measurement procedure to evaluate the impact of transgenic pea, Pisum sativum L., seeds expressing α-amylase inhibitor (AI)-1 or -2 proteins on pea weevil, Bruchus pisorum L. Seeds of transgenic ‘Laura’ and ‘Greenfeast’ peas expressing α-(AI)-1 reduced pea weevil survival by 93–98%. Larval mortality occurred at an early instar. Conversely, in nontransgenic cultivars, ≈98–99% of the pea weevils emerged as adults. By measuring the head capsule size, we determined that larvae died at the first to early third instar in α-(AI)-1 transgenic peas, indicating that this inhibitor is highly effective in controlling this insect. By contrast, transgenic Laura and ‘Dundale’ expressing α-(AI)-2 did not affect pea weevil survival, but they did delay larval development. After 77 d of development, the head capsule size indicated that the larvae were still at the third instar stage in transgenic α-(AI)-2 peas, whereas adult bruchids had developed in the nontransgenic peas.

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