ABSTRACT
Spider venoms are neurotoxin proteins that can kill insects. Spider toxin Hvt gene was cloned under two phloem specific RSs1 and RolC promoters, transformed into tobacco plants through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and tested against Heliothis armigera larvae. Transgenic plants were confirmed through PCR. First instar larvae of H. armigera were released on detached leaves of transformed and non-transformed plants. Insect bioassays showed 93-100% mortality of H. armigera larvae within 72 h on the leaves of transgenic plants while all larvae survived and continued feeding on detached leaves from non-transformed control plants. The Hvt gene expressing under phloem specific RSs1 and RolC promoters could therefore be used for developing H. armigera-resistant, genetically-modified crops.
