Potatoes ‘Spunta" were transformed to express the codon-modified Cry1Ia1-Bt gene to control potato tuber worm in the field and satorage. A laboratory study was conducted to test the efficacy of the transformed lines on secondary pests. Second instars of potato tuber worm, European corn borer, cabbage looper, black cutworn, beet armyworm and tomato hornworm were fed foliage from three potato lines expressing Cry1Ia1 and a non-transformed control. Larval mortality was recorded 3 days later. All lines expressing the Bt-protein had 100% control of the potato tuber worm and the tomato hornworn and over 96% mortality of European corn borer compared to the non-transformed line. The transformed lines provided limited control of black cutworms and beet armyworms. No differences were found between the transformed lines and the control in controlling cabbage looper.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Gelechiidae Phthorimaea operculella (potato tuberworm)
Species 2: Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Colorado potato beetle)
Species 3: Lepidoptera Crambidae Ostrinia nubilalis (European corn borer)
Keywords: Cry1Ia1, Bt
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