Methods and compositions for controlling nematode pests
View Patent ↗Transgenic plants expressing a Vip3 protein have been found to be efficacious against plant-infesting nematodes. Disclosed are methods of controlling nematode populations using transgenic plants expressing Vip3 protein.
1. A method of controlling a Heterodera pest, comprising contacting the Heterodera pest with a transgenic soybean plant or soybean plant part thereof comprising a heterologous nucleic acid molecule that directs expression of a Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14 or SEQ ID NO: 16, or a sequence having at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14 or SEQ ID NO: 16 in the transgenic soybean plant or soybean plant part, wherein the transgenic soybean plant or soybean plant part controls the nematode pest compared to a soybean plant or soybean plant part of the same type that does not express the Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14 or SEQ ID NO: 16, or a sequence having at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14 or SEQ ID NO: 16.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Heterodera pest is Heterodera glycines.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transgenic plant further comprises or expresses at least one additional pesticidal agent selected from the group consisting of a patatin, a lectin, a Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal protein, a Bacillus thuringiensis nematicidal protein, a Xenorhabdus insecticidal protein, a Photorhabdus insecticidal protein, a Bacillus laterosporous insecticidal protein, and a Bacillus sphearicus insecticidal protein.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the Bacillus thuringiensis nematicidal protein is selected from the group consisting of Cry1, Cry3, Cry11, Cry12, Cry13, Cry14, Cry21, and Cry22.
5. A method of producing a soybean plant protected against nematode infestation, comprising:
a. transforming a soybean plant cell with a nucleic acid molecule comprising a plant promoter and encoding a Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1
b. regenerating a transformed soybean plant from the soybean plant cell.
6. A method of producing a soybean plant protected against nematode infestation, comprising:
a. crossing a first parent soybean plant with a second parent soybean plant, wherein said first or second parent soybean plant comprises a heterologous nucleic acid molecule comprising a plant promoter and encoding a Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1, thereby producing a plurality of progeny plants;
b. selecting from the plurality of progeny plants, a transgenic plant that is protected against nematode infestation.
7. A method of controlling Heterodera glycines comprising providing a transgenic soybean plant or plant part comprising an expression cassette having SEQ ID NO: 2 operably linked to a plant promoter capable of driving expression of an encoded Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 to levels sufficient to inhibit nematodes, wherein the proliferation of Heterodera glycines cysts on said plant or plant part is reduced compared to Heterodera glycines cysts on a soybean plant or plant part not expressing the Vip3A protein.
8. A method of increasing the vigor or yield in a transgenic soybean plant exposed to a population of nematodes comprising:
a. introgressing a transgenic soybean event into a soybean plant resulting in a transgenic soybean plant, wherein the transgenic soybean event comprises a heterologous nucleic acid molecule comprising a plant promoter and encoding a Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the Vip3A protein confers upon the transgenic soybean event resistance to nematodes; and
b. growing the transgenic soybean plant or progeny thereof at a location where nematode infestation is yield limiting to a soybean plant not comprising the heterologous nucleic acid molecule encoding the Vip3A protein, whereby the transgenic soybean plant has increased vigor or yield compared to the control plant.
9. A method of producing a nematode-resistant soybean plant, comprising introducing a nucleic acid molecule comprising a plant promoter and encoding a Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 into the soybean plant thereby producing a transgenic soybean plant, wherein the nucleic acid molecule causes the expression of the Vip3A protein in an amount that makes the transgenic soybean plant resistant to nematodes.
10. A method of reducing nematode cyst development on roots of a soybean plant infected by a nematode, comprising introducing into cells of the soybean plant a nucleic acid molecule comprising a plant promoter and capable of directing the expression of a Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1, thereby reducing nematode cyst development on roots of the soybean plant.
11. A method for controlling or preventing nematode growth comprising providing a nematode pest with soybean plant material comprising a heterologous nucleic acid molecule comprising a plant promoter and capable of directing expression of a Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein said soybean plant inhibits a nematode biological activity.
12. A method of improving soybean yield, comprising:
a. introducing into a soybean plant a nucleic acid molecule comprising a plant promoter and capable of directing expression of a Vip3A protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1; and
b. cultivating a plurality of transgenic seeds from the plant of step (a), resulting in a plurality of transgenic plants having enhanced resistance to nematode infestation, thereby improving soybean yield.