A novel approach to spider mite control based on expression of sarcotoxin IA peptidevia a virus-vector system in plants

Control of the spider miteTetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval is problematic, and there is a pressing need for efficient, non-hazardous and inexpensive strategies for limiting the damage it causes. The gene for the anti-bacterial peptide sarcotoxin IA of the flesh flySarcophaga peregrina was cloned i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Phytoparasitica 2005-04, Vol.33 (2), p.177-186
Main Authors: Aly, R., Mansour, F., Moch, F. A., Edelstein, M., Libman, D., Meiri, E., Shiboleth, Y. M., Gal-On, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Araneae
Egg production
Fecundity
Host plants
Leaves
Mites
Mortality
Oviposition
Parasites
Peptides
Plants
Spiders
Vegetables
Viruses
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Summary:Control of the spider miteTetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval is problematic, and there is a pressing need for efficient, non-hazardous and inexpensive strategies for limiting the damage it causes. The gene for the anti-bacterial peptide sarcotoxin IA of the flesh flySarcophaga peregrina was cloned into the nonpathogenic potyvirus-based vector system ZYMV-AGII (Zucchini yellow mosaic virus-AGII). Expression of this peptidevia the AGII vector was detected in infected squash leaves and was not deleterious to the host plant. Leaf discs of squash infected with the recombinant virus AGII-sarcotoxin IA were tested for spider mite control under laboratory conditions. Spider mite egg production on plants expressing the sarcotoxin IA gene was decreased by a factor of two or three compared with that on AGII-infected plants or healthy leaf discs, respectively. In contrast to its effect on oviposition, sarcotoxin IA expressing squash did not significantly affect the mortality and the ability to repel spider mites. Crude extract from squash leaves infected with AGII-sarcotoxin IA was also found to cause a significant decrease of mite fecundity compared with extracts from AGII-treated or healthy plants and also caused a rise in mite mortality. Our results demonstrate that sarcotoxin IA affects mite fecundity and, to a lesser degree, mortality, and shows potential for controlling spider mites in the field.
ISSN:0334-2123
1876-7184
DOI:10.1007/BF03029977