et al. 2005, 2008). The presence of the transgene and the Cry1Ab protein were
determined in the transgenic cotton by PCR and western immunoblot analysis.
Cotton transgenic line, namely line 61, was developed and showed a high level of
resistance to H. armigera (Tohidfar et al. 2008). Afterward, the effect of Iranian Bt
cotton was assessed on the cotton secondary pest, Bemiscia tabaci, and also
Encarsia formosa, its parasitoid (Azimi et al. 2012). The Bt cotton negatively
affected E. formosa in terms of parasitoid developmental time and weight.
The collaboration between the Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian
Academy of Sciences, and Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran,
resulted in the development of transgenic potato plants expressing the modified
cry3A gene (Salehi Jouzani et al. 2008a). The hybrid cry3aM-licBM2 gene was
synthesized by Salehi Jouzani et al. (2005). The transgenic potatoes showed a high
level of resistance to Colorado potato beetles, L. decemlineata (Col.:
Chrysomelidae).
The alfalfa weevil, Hyper postica (Col.: Curculionidae) is one of the most
destructive pests of alfalfa in Iran. The transgenic alfalfa expressing cry3A gene
was developed and the efficiency of these plants was evaluated in the greenhouse
(Zare et al. 2008).
The transgenic line of sugar beet plants resistant to lepidopteran pests was
developed and generated by the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of
Iran (ABRII) and Sugar Beet Institute of Iran (SBSI). The sugar beet, Beta vulgaris
L., transformed with the synthetic cry1Ab gene from Bt showed enhanced resistance
to S. littoralis (Jafari et al. 2007). Probably due to the low expression level of
Cry1Ab, the full protection of sugar beet against S. littoralis was not achieved and
only the enhancement of resistance was observed, ranging from 37 to 70% mortality
within the first week of infestation (Jafari et al. 2009b). The inheritance of synthetic
cry1Ab gene to the next generation of sugar beet was successfully carried out (Jafari
et al. 2009a). After demonstrating the successful inheritance of cry1Ab gene to F 1
progeny, the morphological properties and the resistance of transgenic sugar beet to
S. littoralis were evaluated (Norouzi et al. 2011). As a result, the morphological traits
of transgenic sugar beet did not differ compared to controls, while, the transgenic
plants showed enhanced resistance to S. littoralis.
Although GM crops expressing cry genes is considered as the successful substitute for chemicals, evaluation of potential hazards or in general, risk assessment is
required before deployment of this technology. A significant study has been devoted
to the investigation of the environmental and human health effects of Bt rice
production vs. non-transgenic rice in Iran (Dastan et al. 2019). This study was
performed by the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran in the
paddy fields of three northern cities, Amol, Sari and Rasht (Mazandaran and Guilan
provinces), under the control of Rice Research Institute of Iran (RRII). Four transgenic rice lines were employed. Different parameters such as climate change, ozone
layer depletion, terrestrial acidification, freshwater eutrophication, marine eutrophication, human toxicity, photochemical oxidant formation, particulate matter formation, terrestrial eco-toxicity, freshwater eco-toxicity, marine eco-toxicity, ionizing
radiation, agricultural land occupation, urban land occupation, natural land
10 Progress on the Bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis and Its. . .
425
determined in the transgenic cotton by PCR and western immunoblot analysis.
Cotton transgenic line, namely line 61, was developed and showed a high level of
resistance to H. armigera (Tohidfar et al. 2008). Afterward, the effect of Iranian Bt
cotton was assessed on the cotton secondary pest, Bemiscia tabaci, and also
Encarsia formosa, its parasitoid (Azimi et al. 2012). The Bt cotton negatively
affected E. formosa in terms of parasitoid developmental time and weight.
The collaboration between the Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian
Academy of Sciences, and Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran,
resulted in the development of transgenic potato plants expressing the modified
cry3A gene (Salehi Jouzani et al. 2008a). The hybrid cry3aM-licBM2 gene was
synthesized by Salehi Jouzani et al. (2005). The transgenic potatoes showed a high
level of resistance to Colorado potato beetles, L. decemlineata (Col.:
Chrysomelidae).
The alfalfa weevil, Hyper postica (Col.: Curculionidae) is one of the most
destructive pests of alfalfa in Iran. The transgenic alfalfa expressing cry3A gene
was developed and the efficiency of these plants was evaluated in the greenhouse
(Zare et al. 2008).
The transgenic line of sugar beet plants resistant to lepidopteran pests was
developed and generated by the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of
Iran (ABRII) and Sugar Beet Institute of Iran (SBSI). The sugar beet, Beta vulgaris
L., transformed with the synthetic cry1Ab gene from Bt showed enhanced resistance
to S. littoralis (Jafari et al. 2007). Probably due to the low expression level of
Cry1Ab, the full protection of sugar beet against S. littoralis was not achieved and
only the enhancement of resistance was observed, ranging from 37 to 70% mortality
within the first week of infestation (Jafari et al. 2009b). The inheritance of synthetic
cry1Ab gene to the next generation of sugar beet was successfully carried out (Jafari
et al. 2009a). After demonstrating the successful inheritance of cry1Ab gene to F 1
progeny, the morphological properties and the resistance of transgenic sugar beet to
S. littoralis were evaluated (Norouzi et al. 2011). As a result, the morphological traits
of transgenic sugar beet did not differ compared to controls, while, the transgenic
plants showed enhanced resistance to S. littoralis.
Although GM crops expressing cry genes is considered as the successful substitute for chemicals, evaluation of potential hazards or in general, risk assessment is
required before deployment of this technology. A significant study has been devoted
to the investigation of the environmental and human health effects of Bt rice
production vs. non-transgenic rice in Iran (Dastan et al. 2019). This study was
performed by the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran in the
paddy fields of three northern cities, Amol, Sari and Rasht (Mazandaran and Guilan
provinces), under the control of Rice Research Institute of Iran (RRII). Four transgenic rice lines were employed. Different parameters such as climate change, ozone
layer depletion, terrestrial acidification, freshwater eutrophication, marine eutrophication, human toxicity, photochemical oxidant formation, particulate matter formation, terrestrial eco-toxicity, freshwater eco-toxicity, marine eco-toxicity, ionizing
radiation, agricultural land occupation, urban land occupation, natural land
10 Progress on the Bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis and Its. . .
425