Effect of CryIIa transgenic chickpeas to Helicoverpa armigera larval parasitoid, Campoletis chlorideae

Abstract

The current experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of transgenic chickpea lines expressing CryIIa to C. chlorideae under laboratory conditions. There was a significant reduction in cocoon formation and adult emergence of C. chlorideae reared on H. armigera larvae fed on the leaves of transgenic chickpea before and after parasitisation. The larval period was prolonged and was a significant difference between the transgenic and nontransgenic chickpea lines was observed. Although the pupal period of the parasitoid was prolonged, there were no significant differences between the transgenic and nontransgenic chickpea lines. The adverse effects of transgenic chickpea lines on cocoon formation and adult emergence of C.chlorideae were largely due to the early mortality of H.armigera larvae, but there was no direct toxicity of Bt toxin protein to C. chlorideae. The amount of CryIIa protein transferred from leaves to the non-target insects and natural enemies were negligible