COMBINATIONS INCLUDING Cry34Ab/35Ab AND Cry6Aa PROTEINS TO PREVENT DEVELOPMENT OF RESISTANCE IN CORN ROOTWORMS (DIABROTICA SPP.)

Abstract

The subject invention relates in part to Cry34Ab / 35Ab in combination with Cry6Aa. The subject invention relates in part to the surprising discovery that combinations of Cry34Ab / Cry35Ab and Cry6Aa are useful for preventing development of resistance (to either insecticidal protein system alone) by a corn rootworm (Diabrotica spp.) population. Included within the subject invention are plants producing these insecticidal Cry proteins, which are useful to mitigate concern that a corn rootworm population could develop that would be resistant to either of these insecticidal protein systems alone. Plants (and acreage planted with such plants) that produce these two insecticidal protein systems are included within the scope of the subject invention. The subject invention also relates in part to combinations of Cry34Ab / 35Ab and Cry3Aa proteins “triple stacked” with a Cry6Aa protein. Transgenic plants, including corn, comprising a cry6Aa gene, cry34Ab / 35Ab genes, and a cry3Aa gene are included within the scope of the subject invention. Thus, such embodiments target rootworms with three modes of action.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]Humans grow corn for food and energy applications. Corn is an important crop. It is an important source of food, food products, and animal feed in many areas of the world. Insects eat and damage plants and thereby undermine these human efforts. Billions of dollars are spent each year to control insect pests and additional billions are lost to the damage they inflict.[0002]Damage caused by insect pests is a major factor in the loss of the world's corn crops, despite the use of protective measures such as chemical pesticides. In view of this, insect resistance has been genetically engineered into crops such as corn in order to control insect damage and to reduce the need for traditional chemical pesticides.[0003]Over 10 million acres of U.S. corn are infested with corn rootworm species complex each year. The corn rootworm species complex includes the northern corn rootworm (Diabrotica barberi), the southern corn rootworm (D. undecimpunctata howardi), and the western co...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a combination of two insecticidal proteins, called Cry34Ab / Cry35Ab and Cry6Aa, which can be used to prevent resistance in a corn rootworm population. This combination can be used to protect plants from this pest and other similar ones. The technical effect is that this combination can help reduce the risk of developing resistant pests, which could be a potential concern for farmers.

Problems solved by technology

Insects eat and damage plants and thereby undermine these human efforts.

Billions of dollars are spent each year to control insect pests and additional billions are lost to the damage they inflict.

Damage caused by insect pests is a major factor in the loss of the world's corn crops, despite the use of protective measures such as chemical pesticides.

Lodging eventually reduces corn yield and often results in death of the plant.

By feeding on cornsilks, the adult beetles reduce pollination and, therefore, detrimentally affect the yield of corn per plant.

However, if two toxins bind to two different receptors, this could be an indication that the insect would not be simultaneously resistant to those two toxins.

Predicting competitive binding for the Cry34 / 35 system is also further complicated by the fact that two proteins are involved in the Cry34 / 35 binary system.

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