Please wait a minute...
Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2012, Vol. 12 Issue (11): 1836-1844    DOI: 10.1016/S1671-2927(00)8718
PHYSIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY · TILLAGE · CULTIVATION Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Effects of Extreme Air Temperature and Humidity on the Insecticidal Expression Level of Bt Cotton
 CHEN Yuan, WEN Yu-jin, CHENYuan, John Tom Cothren, ZHANG Xiang, WANG Yong-hui, William A
1.Ecology and Cultivation in Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtse River, Ministry of Agriculture/Agricultural College, Yangzhou University,Yangzhou 225009, P.R.China
2.Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station TX77843, USA
3.Key Laboratory of Crops Genetics and Physiology, Jiangsu Province/Agricultural College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, P.R.China
4.Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture, Texas A&M University, College Station TX77843, USA
Download:  PDF in ScienceDirect  
Export:  BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)      
摘要  The higher survival rates of Helicoverpa amigera larvae were usually observed after adverse climate which was related to extreme temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) stresses in transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton. The unstable resistance of Bt cotton to bollworms has been correlated with the reduced expression of CryIAc d-endotoxin. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of combined temperature and relative humidity stresses on the leaf CryIAc insecticidal protein expression during critical developmental stages. The study was undertaken on two transgenic cotton cultivars that share same parental background, Sikang 1 (a conventional cultivar) and Sikang 3 (a hybrid cultivar), during the 2007 and 2008 growing seasons at the Yangzhou University Farm, Yangzhou, China. The study was arranged with two factors that consisted of temperature (two levels) and relative humidity (three levels). The six T/RH treatments were 37°C/95%, 37°C/70%, 37°C/50%, 18°C/95%, 18°C/70%, and 18°C/50%. In 2007, the six treatments were imposed to the plants at peak flowering stage for 24 h; in 2008, the six treatments were applied to the plants at peak square, peak flowering, and peak boll stages for 48 h. The results of the study indicated that the leaf insecticidal protein expression in CryIAc was significantly affected by extreme temperature only at peak flowering stage, and by both extreme temperature and relative humidity during boll filling stage. The greatest reductions were observed when the stresses were applied at peak boll stage. In 2008, after 48 h stress treatment, the leaf Bt endotoxin expression reduced by 25.9-36.7 and 23.6-40.5% at peak boll stage, but only by 14.9-26.5 and 12.8-24.0% at peak flowering stage for Sikang 1 and Sikang 3, respectively. The greatest reduction was found under the low temperature combined with low relative humidity condition for both years. It is believed that the temperature and relative humidity stresses may be attributed to the reduced efficacy of Bt cotton in growing conditions in China, where extreme temperatures often increase up to 35-40°C and/or decrease down to 15-20°C, and relative humidity may reach to 85-95% and/or reduce to 40-55% during the cotton growing season.

Abstract  The higher survival rates of Helicoverpa amigera larvae were usually observed after adverse climate which was related to extreme temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) stresses in transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton. The unstable resistance of Bt cotton to bollworms has been correlated with the reduced expression of CryIAc d-endotoxin. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of combined temperature and relative humidity stresses on the leaf CryIAc insecticidal protein expression during critical developmental stages. The study was undertaken on two transgenic cotton cultivars that share same parental background, Sikang 1 (a conventional cultivar) and Sikang 3 (a hybrid cultivar), during the 2007 and 2008 growing seasons at the Yangzhou University Farm, Yangzhou, China. The study was arranged with two factors that consisted of temperature (two levels) and relative humidity (three levels). The six T/RH treatments were 37°C/95%, 37°C/70%, 37°C/50%, 18°C/95%, 18°C/70%, and 18°C/50%. In 2007, the six treatments were imposed to the plants at peak flowering stage for 24 h; in 2008, the six treatments were applied to the plants at peak square, peak flowering, and peak boll stages for 48 h. The results of the study indicated that the leaf insecticidal protein expression in CryIAc was significantly affected by extreme temperature only at peak flowering stage, and by both extreme temperature and relative humidity during boll filling stage. The greatest reductions were observed when the stresses were applied at peak boll stage. In 2008, after 48 h stress treatment, the leaf Bt endotoxin expression reduced by 25.9-36.7 and 23.6-40.5% at peak boll stage, but only by 14.9-26.5 and 12.8-24.0% at peak flowering stage for Sikang 1 and Sikang 3, respectively. The greatest reduction was found under the low temperature combined with low relative humidity condition for both years. It is believed that the temperature and relative humidity stresses may be attributed to the reduced efficacy of Bt cotton in growing conditions in China, where extreme temperatures often increase up to 35-40°C and/or decrease down to 15-20°C, and relative humidity may reach to 85-95% and/or reduce to 40-55% during the cotton growing season.
Keywords:  Bt cotton       high temperature       low temperature       relative humidity       CryIAc protein  
Received: 14 November 2011   Accepted:
Fund: 

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30971727, 31171479), the PriorityAcademic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, China, the Key Laboratory Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China (10KJA210057), the Doctoral Advisor Foundation of Education Department of China (20113250110001), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China (BK2009324), the New Century Academic Leader Project, Yangzhou University of China, and the Qing-Lan Project, Jiangsu Provincial Educational Department, China.

Corresponding Authors:  Correspondence CHEN De-hua, Tel: +86-514-87979357, Fax: +86-514-87996817, E-mail: dehuachen2002@yahoo.com.cn     E-mail:  dehuachen2002@yahoo.com.cn
About author:  CHEN Yuan, E-mail: nxx@yzu.edu.cn;

Cite this article: 

CHEN Yuan, WEN Yu-jin, CHENYuan , John Tom Cothren, ZHANG Xiang, WANG Yong-hui, William A. 2012. Effects of Extreme Air Temperature and Humidity on the Insecticidal Expression Level of Bt Cotton. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 12(11): 1836-1844.

[1]Adamczyk J J, Hardee D D, Adams L C, Sumerford D V.2001. Correlating differences in larval survival anddevelopment of bollworms (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)and fall armyworms (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) todifferential expression of CryIAc(c)-endotoxin invarious plant parts among commercial cultivars oftransgenic Bacillus thuringiensis cotton. Journal ofEconomic Entomology, 94, 284-290

[2]Adamczyk J J, Meredith W R. 2004. Genetic basis for thevariability of CryIAc expression among commercialtransgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton cultivars inthe United States. Journal of Cotton Science, 8, 17-23

[3]Benedict J H, Sachs D W, Altman W R, Deaton R J, KohelD R, Ring, S A Berberich. 1996. Field performance ofcottons expressing transgenic CryIA insecticidalproteins for resistance to Heliothis virescens andHelicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Journal ofEconomic Entomology, 89, 230-238

[4]Bacheler J S, Mott D W. 1997. Efficacy of grower-managedBt cotton in North Carolina. In: Dugger P, Richter D,eds., Beltwide Cotton Conference Proceedings.National Cotton Council, Memphis. pp. 858-861

[5]Bradford M M. 1976. A rapid and sensitive method for thequantification of microgram quantities of proteinutilizing the principle of protein-dye binding. AnnallyBiochemistry, 72, 248-254

[6]Chen S, Wu J Y, He X L, Huang J Q, Zhou B L, Zhang R X1997. Quantification using ELISA of Bacillusthuringiensis insecticidal protein expressed in the tissueof transgenic insect-resistant cotton. Journal of JiangsuAgriculture Science, 3, 154-156 (in Chinese)

[7]Chen D H, Ye G Y, Yang C Q, Chen Y, Wu Y K. 2004. Effectafter introducing Bacillus thuringiensis gene onnitrogen metabolism in cotton. Field Crops Research,87, 235-244

[8]Chen D H, Ye G Y, Yang C Q, Chen Y, Wu Y K. 2005. Theeffect of the high temperature on the insecticidalproperties of the cotton. Environmental andExperimental Botany, 53, 333-342

[9]Finnegan D J. 1994. Retroviruses and transposons:wandering retroviruses? Current Biology, 4, 641-643

[10]Fitt G P, Mares C L, Llewellyn D J. 1994. Field evaluationand potential ecological impact of transgenic cottons (Gossypium hirsutum) in Australia. Biocontrol Scienceand Technology, 4, 535-548

[11]Fitt G P. 1998. Efficacy of Ingard? cotton-patterns andconsequences. In: The Ninth Australian CottonConference Proceedings. The Cotton Research andDevelopment Corporation, Australia. pp. 233-245

[12]Fitt G P, L J Wilson. 2000. Genetic engineering in IPM: acase study. In: Kennedy G G, Sutton T B, eds., EmergingTechnologies in Integrated Pest Management:Concepts, Research and Implementation. APS Press,St. Paul, MN. pp. 108-125

[13]Gianessi L P, Carpenter J E. 1999. AgriculturalBiotechnology: Insect Control Benefits. NationalCenter for Food and Agricultural Policy, USA.Greenplate J T. 1999. Quantification of Bacillusthuringiensis insect control protein CryIAc over timein Bollgard cotton fruit and terminals. Journal ofEconomic Entomology, 92, 1377-1383

[14]Greenplate J T, Penn S R, Mullins J W, Oppenhuizen M.2000. Seasonal CryIAc levels in DP50B: the “Bollgard®basis” for bollgard II. In: Dugger P, Richter D, eds.,Beltwide Cotton Conference Proceedings. NationalCotton Council, Memphis. pp. 1039-1040

[15]Guo X M, Liu H T, Zhang Y S, Qiang A D, 1999. Thetechnique and achievement of Bt transgenic cottonbreeding in China. China Cottons, 7, 2-5 (in Chinese)

[16]Hallikeri S S, Halemani H L, Katageri I S, Patil B C, Patil V C,Palled Y B. 2009. Influence of sowing time and moistureregimes on cry protein concentration and relatedparameters of Bt-cotton. Karnataka Journal ofAgriculture Science, 22, 995-1000

[17]Ian J R. 2006. Effect of genotype, edaphic, environmentalconditions, and agronomic practices on CryIAc proteinexpression in transgenic cotton. The Journal of CottonScience, 10, 252-262

[18]Kaiser J. 1996. Pest overwhelm Bt cotton crop. Journal ofScience, 223, 423.Olsen K M, Daly J C. 2000. Plant-toxin interactions intransgenic Bt cotton and their effect on mortality ofHelicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).Journal of Economical Entomology, 4, 1293-1299Plapp F W, Kanga L H B, Karunaratne K

[19]1994. Insecticideresistance in major cotton pests world-wide: incidence,mechansims and management. In: Constable G A,Forrester N W, eds., Production of World CottonResearch Conference, 1st, Brisbane, Australia. CSIRO,Melbourne. pp. 550-555

[20]Pettigrew W T, Adamczyk J J. 2006. Nitrogen fertility andplanting date efffects on lint yield and CryIAc (Bt)endotoxin production. Agronomy Journal, 98, 691-697

[21]Pray C E, Huang J K, Hu R F, Rozelle S. 2002. Five years ofBt cotton in China - the benefits continue. The PlantJournal, 4, 423-430

[22]Reddy K R, Reddy V R, Hodges H F. 1992. Temperatureeffects on early season cotton growth and development.Agronomy Journal, 84, 237-243

[23]ReddyV R, ReddyK R, Baker D N. 1991. Temperature effectson growth and development of cotton during thefruiting period. Agronomy Journal, 83, 211-217

[24]Sachs E S, Benedict J H, Stelly D M, Taylor J F, Altman DW, Berberich S A, Davis S K. 1998. Expression andsegregation of genes encoding CryIAc insecticidalproteins in cotton. Crop Science, 38, 1-11

[25]Silveira J G,Araujo J P, LimaMS, Viegas RA. 2009. Roots andleaves display contrasting osmotic adjustment mechanismsin response to NaCl-salinity in Atriplex numularia.Environmental Experimental Botany, 66, 1-8

[26]Smith R H. 1998. Year two of bollgard behind boll weevileradication: alabama observations. In: Dugger P, RichterD, eds., Beltwide Cotton Conference Proceedings.National Cotton Council, Memphis. pp. 965-966

[27]Wang LM, Wang J B, Sheng F F, Zhang X K, Liu R Z. 2001.Influences of waterlogging and drought on differenttransgenic Bt cotton cultivars. Cotton Science, 2, 87-90

[28](in Chinese)Wang J H, Zhao C J, Guo X W, Tian Q J. 2001. Study on thewater status of the wheat leaves diagnosed by the spectralreflectance. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 34, 1-4

[29]Wang YH, Ye G Y, Luan N, Xiao J, Chen Y, Chen D H. 2009.Boll size affects the insecticidal protein content inBacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton. Field CropsResearch, 110, 106-110

[30]Weiler E W, Jourdan P S, Conrad W. 1981. Levels of indole-3-aceticacid and intact decapitated coleoptiples asdetermined by a specific and highly sensitive solidphaseenzyme immuno-assay Planta, 153, 561-571

[31]Xia L Q, Guo S D. 2004. High temperature on Bt geneexpression of Bt cotton. Scientia Agricultura Sinica,11, 1733-1737. (in Chinese)

[32]Zhang X, Wang G X, Lv C H, Liu X F, Chen Y, Chen D H.2012. The effect of low temperature on the insecticidalproperties of Bt cotton. Journal of Food, Agriculture& Environment, 10, 397-403

[33]Zhao J Z, Zhao K J, Lu M G, Fan X L, Guo S D. 1999.Interactions between Helicoverpa armigera andtransgenic Bt cotton in North China. ScientiaAgricultura Sinica, 6, 1-7 (in Chinese)

[34]Zhao J Z, zhou C H, Lu M G, Fan X L, Rong L J, Meng X Q.2000. Monitoring and management of Helicoverpaarmigera resistance to transgenic Bt cotton in NorthernChina. Resistant Pest Management, 1, 28-31 (in Chinese)

[35]Zhou GY, Yang F X, Fu X Q, Wang X L. 1996. The influenceof climatic differences in the Yangtze River Valley oncotton yield and fibre quality. China Cottons, 10, 15-18. (in Chinese)

[36]Zhou C K. 1999. The characteristics and trend analyse ofair temperature in both winter and summer for past halfcentury in Nanjing region. Scientia MeteorologicaSinica, 3, 310-319. (in Chinese)

[37]Zhou D S, Wu Z T. 2000. Effect of temperature and nitrogenfertilizer on insect resistance of Bt cotton. Journal ofAnhui Agriculture Univerisity, 4, 352-357. (in Chinese)
[1] WANG Xing-long, ZHU Yu-peng, YAN Ye, HOU Jia-min, WANG Hai-jiang, LUO Ning, WEI Dan, MENG Qing-feng, WANG Pu. Irrigation mitigates the heat impacts on photosynthesis during grain filling in maize [J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(8): 2370-2383.
[2] XU Yan-xia, ZHANG Jing, WAN Zi-yun, HUANG Shan-xia, DI Hao-chen, HE Ying, JIN Song-heng. Physiological and transcriptome analyses provide new insights into the mechanism mediating the enhanced tolerance of melatonin-treated rhododendron plants to heat stress[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(8): 2397-2411.
[3] LIU Zhen-yu, LI Yi-yang, Leila. I. M. TAMBEL, LIU Yu-ting, DAI Yu-yang, XU Ze, LENG Xin-hua, ZHANG Xiang, CHEN De-hua, CHEN Yuan. Enhancing boll protein synthesis and carbohydrate conversion by the application of exogenous amino acids at the peak flowering stage increased the boll Bt toxin concentration and lint yield in cotton[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(6): 1684-1694.
[4] REN Chuan-ying, LU Shu-wen, GUAN Li-jun, HONG Bin, ZHANG Ying-lei, HUANG Wen-gong, LI Bo, LIU Wei, LU Wei-hong.

The metabolomics variations among rice, brown rice, wet germinated brown rice, and processed wet germinated brown rice [J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(9): 2767-2776.

[5] TONG Hui, DUAN Hua, WANG Sheng-jun, SU Jing-ping, SUN Yue, LIU Yan-qing, TANG Liang, LIU Xue-jun, CHEN Wen-fu. Moderate drought alleviate the damage of high temperature to grain quality by improving the starch synthesis of inferior grain in japonica rice[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2022, 21(10): 3094-3101.
[6] CHEN Yuan, LIU Zhen-yu, HENG Li, Leila I. M. TAMBEL, CHEN De-hua. High plant density increases seed Bt endotoxin content in Bt transgenic cotton[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(7): 1796-1806.
[7] ZHANG Xiang, ZHOU Ming-yuan, LI Ya-bing, LIU Zhen-yu, CHEN Yuan, CHEN De-hua. Nitrogen spraying affects seed Bt toxin concentration and yield in Bt cotton[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(5): 1229-1238.
[8] CHEN Yuan, LIU Zhen-yu, Leila I. M. TAMBEL, ZHANG Xiang, CHEN Yuan, CHEN De-hua . Reduced square Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal protein content of transgenic cotton under N deficit[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2021, 20(1): 100-108.
[9] LI Qiang, CHANG Xu-hong, MENG Xiang-hai, LI Ding, ZHAO Ming-hui, SUN Shu-luan, LI Hui-min, QIAO Wen-chen. Heat stability of winter wheat depends on cultivars, timing and protective methods[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2020, 19(8): 1984-1997.
[10] YU Xiao-fang, BORJIGIN Qinggeer, GAO Ju-lin, WANG Zhi-gang, HU Shu-ping, BORJIGIN Naoganchaolu, WANG Zhen, SUN Ji-ying, HAN Sheng-cai.
Exploration of the key microbes and composition stability of microbial consortium GF-20 with efficiently decomposes corn stover at low temperatures
[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2019, 18(8): 1893-1904.
[11] ZHOU ying, ZHANG Min-hong, FENG Jing-hai, DIAO Hua-jie. Effect of relative humidity at chronic temperature on growth performance, glucose consumption, and mitochondrial ATP production of broilers[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2019, 18(6): 1321-1328.
[12] NIE Jun-jun, YUAN Yan-chao, QIN Du-lin, LIU Yan-hui, WANG Shuang-lei, LI Jin-pu, ZHANG Mei-ling, ZHAO Na, GUO Wen-jun, QI Jie, MAO Li-li, SONG Xian-liang, SUN Xue-zhen . Spatial distribution of bolls affects yield formation in different genotypes of Bt cotton varieties[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2019, 18(11): 2492-2504.
[13] ZHOU ying, LI Xiu-mei, ZHANG Min-hong, FENG Jing-hai. Effect of relative humidity at either acute or chronic moderate temperature on growth performance and droppings’ corticosterone metabolites of broilers[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2019, 18(1): 152-159.
[14] ZHANG Xiang, RUI Qiu-zhi, LIANG Pan-pan, WEI Chen-hua, DENG Guo-qiang, CHEN Yuan, CHEN Yuan, DONG Zhao-di, CHEN De-hua. Dynamics of Bt cotton Cry1Ac protein content under an alternating high temperature regime and effects on nitrogen metabolism[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2018, 17(09): 1991-1998.
[15] JIA Xiao-hui, WANG Wen-hui, DU Yan-min, TONG Wei, WANG Zhi-hua, Hera Gul. Optimal storage temperature and 1-MCP treatment combinations for different marketing times of Korla Xiang pears[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2018, 17(03): 693-703.
No Suggested Reading articles found!