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Student 10-Minute Presentation

Physiology, Biochemistry, and Toxicology

Student

Student Competition

Grad 10-min Competition: PBT, Genetics - Functional and Molecular

Identifying the genetic basis of resistance to Bt Protein Vip3 in Helicoverpa zea using GWAS & RNAseq

Monday, November 11, 2024
9:00 AM – 9:12 AM MST
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 124 AB, PCC
Oral Presentation Student Competition
Crops genetically engineered to produce Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins have effectively suppressed some major pests, reduced conventional insecticide use, and increased the profits of farmers. However, extensive use of such Bt crops in the U.S. has led to widespread practical resistance to several Bt crystalline (Cry) proteins and early warnings of resistance to the Bt vegetative insecticidal protein Vip3Aa in Helicoverpa zea, one of the most damaging crop pests in the nation. With reduced efficacy of Cry proteins, Bt crops producing Vip3Aa have become especially important. Understanding the genetic basis of resistance can be useful for developing effective resistance management plans to maintain the benefits of Bt crops, but relatively little is known about the genetic basis of resistance to Vip3Aa. Here we used a genome wide association study (GWAS) to analyze the genetic basis of resistance to Vip3Aa in a lab-selected strain of H. zea<. For this Vip3Aa-resistant strain, we also determined the effects of exposure to Vip3Aa on gene transcription. The results identify genomic regions associated with resistance to Vip3Aa and may be useful for understanding and managing resistance to this Bt protein.