How to translate text using browser tools
20 December 2022 eCry3.1Ab-resistant Western Corn Rootworm Larval Midgut Epithelia Respond Minimally to Bt Intoxication
Kyle J. Paddock, Kyle Dellamano, Bruce E. Hibbard, Kent S. Shelby
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Insect resistance to toxins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a major issue in agriculture. Resistance to Bt has been linked to the loss of toxin binding sites within the insect, changes within the gut microbiota, and midgut tissue regeneration. Histopathological documentation of intoxication and resistance to Bt is lacking for rootworms in the genus Diabrotica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a major target of Bt corn. Here, we document the morphological response of both Bt-resistant and Bt-susceptible larval western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, to intoxication with eCry3.1Ab. Gut lumen structural differences are subtle between the two colonies when feeding on non-Bt corn. However, upon ingestion of Bt-corn roots, susceptible larvae develop symptoms indicative of gut disruption by Bt, whereas resistant larvae incur milder effects. Mild disruption of the peritrophic matrix and gut lumen is accompanied by stem cell proliferation that may lead to midgut tissue regeneration. These results help contextualize the multifaceted nature of Bt-resistance in western corn rootworm for the first time from a histopathological perspective.

© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Kyle J. Paddock, Kyle Dellamano, Bruce E. Hibbard, and Kent S. Shelby "eCry3.1Ab-resistant Western Corn Rootworm Larval Midgut Epithelia Respond Minimally to Bt Intoxication," Journal of Economic Entomology 116(1), 263-267, (20 December 2022). https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toac191
Received: 8 September 2022; Accepted: 10 November 2022; Published: 20 December 2022
JOURNAL ARTICLE
5 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

KEYWORDS
Bacillus thuringiensis
Diabrotica virgifera virgifera
Histology
insect pest management
resistance management
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top