Biotech Method No.1

Introduction

Method for Maize hybrids expressing Cry protein (Bt) traits such as Cry1Fa, Cry1Ab

Materials

128 well trays, each well 16 mm diam. x 16 mm height and vented lids to cover (CD International, Pitman, NJ)
Purified Cry protein of known percent active
Buffer solution: 0.1%Triton-X 100
Artificial diet suitable for the corn borer species
Disposable pipettes suitable for piping measured aliquots of diet into wells and diluted protein onto the cooled diet surface
Laboratory scale and disposable weigh boats suitable for weighing small aliquots of protein and small larvae
Growth chamber where temperature and light is controlled and recorded
Laboratory hoods that reduce contamination

Method

A population sample that targets sufficient individuals to represent 200 genomes.
- A known susceptible laboratory colony
- Field collected populations consist of either adults obtained from light traps or from sweep net samples; or eggs or larvae collected from non-Bt maize
Collected individuals are reared on artificial diet in the laboratory to obtain eggs that will hatch into sufficient neonates to conduct the replicated assays (use rearing methods appropriate for species)
- Bioassay of neonate larvae involves exposure to Bt protein solutions applied to the surface of single wells of artificial diet.
- Preference is to utilize progeny (F₁) obtained directly from field-collected insects whenever possible. If required, insects from later generations (F₂ or F₃) can be used, or in cases where sufficient eggs are collected from the field, the hatching neonates (F₀) can be assayed directly.
Neonates <24 hour old are placed in individual wells with 1 ml of diet onto which a measured concentration of protein has been applied uniformly to the diet surface
Sixteen neonates tested per protein concentration
A range of ~ 8 protein concentrations are selected using known susceptible insects, that span from no protein with 0% mortality (control) to a concentration that causes 100% mortality
Three replications per concentration (48 neonates) are tested for a total of ~384 neonates tested per population
After 7 days, mortality and individual larval weights are recorded for each well.
- Larva that have not grown beyond 1^st instar and weigh ≤0.1 mg are considered dead
- Surviving larvae can be weighed as a group by replicate and an average weight calculated for each replicate
Statistical analysis of mortality is conducted using probit analysis
Larval weights are transformed to percentage growth inhibition relative to controls and the resulting data analyzed by nonlinear regression fitted to a probit model
LC and EC values are used to determine relative sensitivity of the tested populations
- EC₅₀ calculations have been the most sensitive and most economical for detecting changes in susceptibility; however, an approximation of the upper limit of the? LC₉₉ is most frequently adopted as a discriminating dose for confirming possible resistance in high dose pests. >1% survival at this concentration is considered statistically significant.

Precautions & Notes

Disposable plastic equipment is necessary to avoid contamination.
Laboratory sanitation and other operations that reduce potential contamination of diet and protein solutions is critical to consistent results.

Larvae that are prone to tunneling as neonates might not be suited to this diet surface dosing method