Rice (Oryza sativa) productivity is adversely impacted by numerous biotic and abiotic factors. An approximate 52% of the global production of rice is lost annually owing to the damage caused by biotic factors, of which ~21% is attributed to the attack of insect pests. We have developed transgenic pyramided rice lines, endowed with enhanced resistance to major sap sucking insects, through sexual crosses made between two stable transgenic rice lines containing Allium sativum (ASAL) and Galanthus nivalis (GNA) lectin genes. Presence and expression of asal and gna genes in pyramided lines were confirmed by PCR and western blot analyses. | Effect of mannose specific lectins ASAL and GNA on the feeding behavior of BPH Nilaparvata lugens stal.
