Protein complexes from edible mushrooms as a sustainable potato protection against coleopteran pests

• Published in: Plant biotechnology journal Vol. 22; no. 9; pp. 2518 - 2529
• Main Authors: Pogačar, Karmen, Grundner, Maja, Žigon, Primož, Coll, Anna, Panevska, Anastasija, Lukan, Tjaša, Petek, Marko, Razinger, Jaka, Gruden, Kristina, Sepčić, Kristina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.09.2024; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Agaricales - metabolism; Animals; Beetles; biopesticides; Coleoptera; Coleoptera - physiology; Crop production; Crops; Endoplasmic reticulum; Feeding rates; Food sources; Fungal Proteins - genetics; Fungal Proteins - metabolism; Gene expression; Inactivation; insect stress response; Insecticides; Insects; Larva; Larvae; larval toxicity; Leptinotarsa decemlineata; Life cycle analysis; Lipids; Localization; Mushrooms; Pest Control, Biological - methods; Pesticides; Pests; Plant protection; Plants, Genetically Modified; Pleurotus; Potatoes; Proteins; Solanum tuberosum; Solanum tuberosum - genetics; Solanum tuberosum - metabolism; Solanum tuberosum - parasitology; Toxicity; Toxins; transgenic crop; Transgenic plants; Vegetables; biopesticides; transgenic crop; Leptinotarsa decemlineata; Solanum tuberosum; larval toxicity; insect stress response
• ISSN: 1467-7644; 1467-7652; 1467-7652
• DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14365

Summary Protein complexes from edible oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus sp.) composed of pleurotolysin A2 (PlyA2) and pleurotolysin B (PlyB) exert toxicity in feeding tests against Colorado potato beetle (CPB) larvae, acting through the interaction with insect‐specific membrane sphingolipid. Here we present a new strategy for crop protection, based on in planta production of PlyA2/PlyB protein complexes, and we exemplify this strategy in construction of transgenic potato plants of cv Désirée. The transgenics in which PlyA2 was directed to the vacuole and PlyB to the endoplasmic reticulum are effectively protected from infestation by CPB larvae without impacting plant performance. These transgenic plants showed a pronounced effect on larval feeding rate, the larvae feeding on transgenic plants being on average five to six folds lighter than larvae feeding on controls. Further, only a fraction (11%–37%) of the larvae that fed on transgenic potato plants completed their life cycle and developed into adult beetles. Moreover, gene expression analysis of CPB larvae exposed to PlyA2/PlyB complexes revealed the response indicative of a general stress status of larvae and no evidence of possibility of developing resistance due to the functional inactivation of PlyA2/PlyB sphingolipid receptors.