Compositions and methods for deterring feeding by psyllids

Abstract

The invention relates to a plant that includes a transgene encoding a heterologous polypeptide conferring on plant expressing said polypeptide resistance to a hemipteroid sap-sucking insect. The transgene is also expressed in a plant component (such as a leaf). Typically, expression of such polypeptides deters feeding by insects such as psyllids (such as an Asian citrus psyllid, the African citrus psyllid, or the American citrus psyllid). Exemplary plants useful in the invention are citrus or solanaceous plants.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A citrus plant comprising a transgene encoding a heterologous polypeptide conferring on said plant expressing said polypeptide resistance to a hemipteroid sap-sucking insect, wherein said transgene comprises a first regulatory gene involved in basal plant resistance. 
     
     
         2 . The plant of  claim 1 , wherein said transgene is expressed in a plant component. 
     
     
         3 . The plant of  claim 2 , wherein said plant component is a leaf. 
     
     
         4 . The plant of  claim 1 , wherein said insect is a psyllid. 
     
     
         5 . The plant of  claim 4 , wherein said psyllid is the Asian citrus psyllid, the African citrus psyllid, or the American citrus psyllid. 
     
     
         6 . The plant of  claim 4 , wherein said plant is resistant to infestation by psyllids. 
     
     
         7 . The plant of  claim 4 , wherein said plant is resistant to feeding by psyllids. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The plant of  claim 1 , wherein said transgene is operably linked to regulatory sequences for expression of said polypeptide, and wherein said regulatory sequences comprise a promoter. 
     
     
         10 . The plant of  claim 9 , wherein said promoter is a constitutive promoter. 
     
     
         11 . The plant of  claim 9 , wherein said promoter is cell-type specific. 
     
     
         12 . The plant of  claim 1 , wherein said plant further comprises one or more of a ribotoxin gene, a lectin gene, and a second regulatory gene involved in basal plant resistance. 
     
     
         13 . The plant of  claim 12 , wherein said ribotoxin gene is substantially identical to SEQ ID NO: ID or SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
         14 . The plant of  claim 12 , wherein said lectin gene is substantially identical to SEQ ID NO: 5. 
     
     
         15 . The plant of  claim 11 , wherein said regulatory gene is substantially identical to SEQ ID NO: 19 or CsNPR1. 
     
     
         16 . The plant of  claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is substantially identical to SEQ ID NO: 20 or CsNPR1. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The plant of  claim 1 , wherein said plant evidences increased yield. 
     
     
         19 . A product derived from the plant of  claim 1 , wherein said product comprises a detectable amount of said transgene or said polypeptide or an herbicide resistance gene or both. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A progeny plant or seed of the plant of  claim 1 , wherein the progeny plant or seed comprises said transgene. 
     
     
         22 . A plant of  claim 1 , further comprising an herbicide resistance gene conferring resistance to an herbicide. 
     
     
         23 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A plant component or a seed of the plant of  claim 1 , wherein said plant component or seed comprises said transgene. 
     
     
         36 . A progeny of the plant of  claim 1 , wherein said progeny comprises said transgene. 
     
     
         37 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A method of making a plant resistant to citrus greening, comprising introducing into a plant cell a transgene comprising a first regulatory gene involved in basal plant resistance; regenerating from said plant cell a transgenic plant expressing an insect inhibitory amount of a polypeptide encoded by said transgene; and demonstrating Asian citrus psyllid resistance as a property of said transgenic plant, thereby making the plant resistant to citrus greening. 
     
     
         42 . A method for obtaining citrus juice comprising providing fruit harvested from the plant of  claim 1 , and extracting said juice from said harvested fruit. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising concentrating said citrus juice. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising fortifying said citrus juice with any one or all of a vitamin, a nutrient, thiamin, potassium, vitamin D and calcium. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising fortifying said citrus juice concentrate. 
     
     
         46 . A method of obtaining citrus fruit, said method comprising harvesting fruit from the plant of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said plant is  Citrus sinensis, Citrus sinensis  L. Osbeck ‘Hamlin’, or  Citrus sinensis  L. Osbeck ‘Valencia’. 
     
     
         48 - 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . The plant of  claim 15 , wherein said regulatory gene has at least 85% identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19. 
     
     
         58 . The plant of  claim 16 , wherein said polypeptide has at least 85% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20.