Agro-Biotech News

Researchers from the University of Tennessee and partners pyramided cry genes in eucalyptus to control brown looper caterpillar (Thyrinteina arnobia) infestation. The findings are published in GM Crops & Food. In Brazil, the brown looper caterpillar is a major problem for eucalyptus farms. The pest causes severe defoliation and up to 40% reduction in biomass. To control this devastating pest, the research team used genetic engineering to transform trees to produce three cry insecticidal proteins (Cry1Ab, Cry1Bb, and Cry2Aa) from Bacillus thuringiensis.