Protein mixtures for maize insect control

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1 and Cry2 polypeptides. Methods for using the polypeptides and nucleic acids of embodiments of the invention to synergistically enhance resistance of plants to insect predation are encompassed in embodiments of the present invention.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of reducing pest damage in a transgenic plant comprising:
 planting a first transgenic plant seed, wherein the first transgenic plant seed comprises a first transgene and a second transgene, wherein the first transgene causes expression of a Cry1 protein in a plant, wherein the Cry1 protein is selected from the group consisting of (a) SEQ ID NO:1, (b) SEQ ID NO:4, and (c) a polypeptide that is at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:4; and the second transgene causes expression of a Cry2 protein in a plant, wherein the Cry2 protein is selected from the group consisting of (a) SEQ ID NO:2 and (b) a polypeptide that is at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2; thereby reducing damage caused by a first target pest to a plant grown from the first transgenic plant seed.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transgenic plant is maize. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first target pest is a member of order Lepidoptera. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the first target pest is selected from the group consisting of European corn borer and corn earworm. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising treating the first transgenic plant seed with a pesticidal agent. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the pesticidal agent is selected from the group consisting of: an insecticide, an acaricide, a nematicide, a fungicide, a bactericide, a herbicide, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the pesticidal agent is an insecticide. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the insecticide is selected from the group consisting of: a pyrethrin, a synthetic pyrethrin, an oxadizine, a chloronicotinyl, a nitroguanidine, a triazole, an organophosphate, a pyrrol, a pyrazole, a phenol pyrazole, a diacylhydrazine, a biological/fermentation product, a carbamate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first transgenic plant seed further comprises a herbicide resistance gene. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the herbicide resistance gene is selected from the group consisting of: glyphosate N-acetyltransferase (GAT), 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), phosphinothricin N-acetyltransferase (PAT) or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A method for providing synergistic insecticidal activity against at least one pest comprising:
 providing a first transgenic plant, wherein the first transgenic plant expresses a Cry1-derived insecticidal polypeptide and a Cry2-derived insecticidal polypeptide, wherein the Cry1-derived insecticidal polypeptide comprises a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (a) SEQ ID NO:1 and (b) SEQ ID NO:4, and (c) a polypeptide that is at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:4; and wherein the Cry2-derived insecticidal polypeptide comprises a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of (a) SEQ ID NO:2 and (b) a polypeptide that is at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2; thereby resulting in synergistic insect resistance against a first target pest.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the transgenic plant is maize. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first target pest is a member of order Lepidoptera. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first target pest is selected from the group consisting of European corn borer and corn earworm. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising treating the first transgenic plant seed with a pesticidal agent. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the pesticidal agent is selected from the group consisting of: an insecticide, an acaricide, a nematicide, a fungicide, a bactericide, a herbicide, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the pesticidal agent is an insecticide. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the insecticide is selected from the group consisting of: a pyrethrin, a synthetic pyrethrin, an oxadizine, a chloronicotinyl, a nitroguanidine, a triazole, an organophosphate, a pyrrol, a pyrazole, a phenol pyrazole, a diacylhydrazine, a biological/fermentation product, a carbamate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first transgenic plant further comprises a herbicide resistance gene. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the herbicide resistance gene is selected from the group consisting of: glyphosate N-acetyltransferase (GAT), 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), phosphinothricin N-acetyltransferase (PAT) or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         21 . A method of reducing pest damage in a transgenic plant comprising:
 planting a first transgenic plant seed, wherein the first transgenic plant seed comprises a first transgene and a second transgene, wherein the first transgene causes expression of a Cry1 protein in a plant and the second transgene causes expression of a Cry2 protein in a plant, the Cry1 protein selected from the group consisting of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1 and the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:4; and the Cry2 protein comprising the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, thereby reducing damage caused by a first target pest to a plant grown from the first transgenic plant seed.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the transgenic plant is maize. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the first target pest is a member of order Lepidoptera. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the first target pest is selected from the group consisting of European corn borer and corn earworm. 
     
     
         25 . A transgenic plant comprising a first transgene and a second transgene, wherein the first transgene causes expression of a Cry1 protein in a plant and the second transgene causes expression of a Cry2 protein in a plant. 
     
     
         26 . The transgenic plant of  claim 25 , wherein the Cry1 protein selected from the group consisting of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1 and the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:4; and wherein the Cry2 protein comprises the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2.