Isolation of lectin gene and development of resistant<i> Nicotiana tabacum </i>L.<i> </i>against <i style="">Spodoptera litura</i>

Abstract

Attack of insect pests causes a major loss of agricultural produce. Lectin, a plant insecticidal protein, is known to be offering defense against insects either byadversely affecting the survivability and/or byaffecting the fecundity of the insects. In the present study, moth bean cDNA library was constructed for isolating a lectin gene. The isolated moth bean lectin (<i style="">MbL</i>) gene was cloned in a binary vector pBinAR and introduced into tobacco plants by <i>Agrobacterium</i>-mediated transformation method. Molecular analysis confirmed the incorporation of transgene into the transformed tobacco. Insect bioassay of transgenic plants done against <i style="">Sporodoptera litura</i> under laboratory conditions showed an overall 50% reduction in the larval weight gain.