A new bacillus thuringiensis protein for western corn rootworm control

Authors: YIN, YONG - Bayer Cropscience; FLASINKSI, STANISLAW - Bayer Cropscience; MOAR, WILLIAM - Bayer Cropscience; BOWEN, DAVID - Bayer Cropscience; CHAY, CATHY - Bayer Cropscience; MILLIGAN, JASON - Bayer Cropscience; KOUADIO, JEAN-LOUIS - Bayer Cropscience; PAN, AIHONG - Bayer Cropscience; WERNER, BRENT - Bayer Cropscience; BUCKMAN, KARRIE - Bayer Cropscience; ZHANG, JUN - Bayer Cropscience; MUELLER, GEOFFREY - Bayer Cropscience; PREFTAKES, COLLIN - Bayer Cropscience; Hibbard, Bruce; PRICE, PAULA - Bayer Cropscience; JAMES, ROBERT - Bayer Cropscience

Submitted to: PLOS ONE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/9/2020
Publication Date: 11/30/2020
Citation: Yin, Y., Flasinksi, S., Moar, W., Bowen, D., Chay, C., Milligan, J., Kouadio, J., Pan, A., Werner, B., Buckman, K., Zhang, J., Mueller, G., Preftakes, C., Hibbard, B.E., Price, P., James, R. 2020. A new bacillus thuringiensis protein for western corn rootworm control. PLoS ONE. 15(11). Article e0242791. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242791.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242791

Interpretive Summary: The western corn rootworm is one of the most economically important insect pests in North America. Since 2003, transgenic maize expressing rootworm-active proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have been widely adopted as the main approach to controlling rootworm in the U.S. However, the emergence of field resistance to these proteins has been documented in recent years, highlighting the need to develop additional tools for controlling this devasting pest. Here we report the discovery of Vip4Da2, a new Bt insecticidal protein with activity highly selective against WCR. Vip4Da2 contains a sequence and domain signature distinct from families of WCR-active proteins available commercially. Transgenic maize expressing Vip4Da2 demonstrates commercial-level root protection against WCR under field conditions, and WCR beetle emergence was reduced by 97% or higher on Vip4Da2 maize. Our studies also conclude that Vip4Da2 is not cross-resistant to commercially available WCR-active proteins Cry3Bb1 and Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1, or DvSnf7 RNA. Based on these findings, Vip4Da2 represents a valuable new tool for protecting maize against WCR.

Technical Abstract: The Western corn rootworm (WCR) Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte is one of the most economically important insect pests in North America. Since 2003, transgenic maize expressing WCR-active proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have been widely adopted as the main approach to controlling WCR in the U.S. However, the emergence of field resistance to the Bt proteins has been documented in recent years, highlighting the need to develop additional tools for controlling this devasting pest. Here we report the discovery of Vpb4Da2 (initially assigned as Vip4Da2), a new insecticidal protein highly selective against WCR, through high-throughput genome sequencing of a Bt strain sourced from grain dust samples collected in the eastern and central regions of the US. Vpb4Da2 contains a sequence and domain signature distinct from families of WCR-active proteins. Under field conditions, transgenic maize expressing Vpb4Da2 demonstrates commercial-level (at or below NIS 0.25) root protection against WCR, and reduces WCR beetle emergence by = 97%. Our studies also conclude that Vpb4Da2 controls WCR populations that are resistant to WCR-active transgenic maize expressing Cry3Bb1, Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1 (reassigned as Gpp34Ab1/Tpp35Ab1), or DvSnf7 RNA. Based on these findings, Vpb4Da2 represents a valuable new tool for protecting maize against WCR.