Analysis of PM-RNAi Construct Stability and CLCuD Resistance in Transgenic Cotton Progenies

By : Shabnam, Naziya Sultana, Masnad Khan, Meryam Sardar, Jawaid A. Khan

Page No: 326-333

Abstract
Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) population poses significant threat to cotton production in tropical and subtropical countries, and act as a vector for plenty of viruses predominantly begomoviruses and associated satellite molecules. Plant mediated RNAi (PM-RNAi) based approach carrying in silico identified miR166b of Gossypium hirsutum cv. HS6 targeting ESTs (Expressed Sequence Tags) of B. tabaci has been effective against whitefly insect and also providing tolerance from cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) as reported earlier. Current study focuses on stability of transgene in subsequent generations of transgenic cotton lines and its effectiveness in providing protection against CLCuD. Subsequent generations showed reduced diseased symptoms and no phenotypic abnormality from exogenous construct. Overall findings demonstrate effectiveness of RNAi based construct against insect vector whitefly and its stable inheritance across subsequent generations underscore the potential of this approach for sustainable protection.
 

Authors:
Shabnam, Naziya Sultana , Masnad Khan , Meryam Sardar and Jawaid A. Khan
Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Bioscience, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/JPSR.2024.40.02.13