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 plant comprising a transgene encoding a heterologous polypeptide conferring on said plant expressing said polypeptide resistance to a hemipteroid sap-sucking insect. 
     
     
         2 .- 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . A plant comprising a transgene encoding a heterologous polypeptide conferring on said plant expressing said polypeptide resistance to a hemipteroid sap-sucking insect;
 wherein said plant comprises one or more of a ribotoxin gene, a lectin gene, or a regulatory gene involved in basal plant resistance;   wherein said ribotoxin gene is substantially identical to Hirsutellin A (HtA) (native) (SEQ ID NO: 1) or Hta (short) (SEQ ID NO: 3);   wherein said lectin gene is substantially identical to ASAL (native) (SEQ ID NO: 5), ASALR (native) (SEQ ID NO: 7), ASALR (short) (SEQ ID NO: 9), ACA (native) (SEQ ID NO: 11), ACA (short) (SEQ ID NO: 13), ACT (native) (SEQ ID NO: 15), or ACT (short) (SEQ ID NO: 17); and   wherein said regulatory gene is substantially identical to MpNPR1 (SEQ ID NO: 19) or CsNPR1.   
     
     
         58 . The plant of  claim 57 , wherein said transgene is expressed in a plant component. 
     
     
         59 . The plant of  claim 57 , wherein said plant component is a leaf. 
     
     
         60 . The plant of  claim 57 , wherein said insect is a psyllid. 
     
     
         61 . The plant of  claim 60 , wherein said psyllid is the Asian  citrus  psyllid, the African  citrus  psyllid, or the American  citrus  psyllid. 
     
     
         62 . The plant of  claim 57 , wherein said plant is a  citrus  plant or a solanaceous plant. 
     
     
         63 . The plant of  claim 57 , wherein said polypeptide is substantially identical to HtA (native) (SEQ ID NO: 2), HtA (short) (SEQ ID NO: 4), ASAL (native) (SEQ ID NO: 6), ASALR (native) (SEQ ID NO: 8), ASALR (short) (SEQ ID NO: 10), ACA (native) (SEQ ID NO: 12), ACA (short) (SEQ ID NO: 14), ACT (native) (SEQ ID NO: 16), ACT (short) (SEQ ID NO: 18), MpNPR1 (SEQ ID NO: 20) or CsNPR1. 
     
     
         64 . The plant of  claim 63 , wherein polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides are stacked. 
     
     
         65 . A product derived from the plant of  claim 57 , wherein said product comprises a detectable amount of said transgene or said polypeptide or an herbicide resistance gene or both. 
     
     
         66 . The product of  claim 65 , wherein said product is a  citrus  product, a potato product, or a tomato product. 
     
     
         67 . A plant of  claim 57 , further comprising an herbicide resistance gene conferring resistance to an herbicide. 
     
     
         68 . A polynucleotide having substantial identity to HtA (native) (SEQ ID NO: 1), HtA (short) (SEQ ID NO: 3), ASAL (native) (SEQ ID NO: 5), ASALR (native) (SEQ ID NO: 7), ASALR (short) (SEQ ID NO: 9), ACA (native) (SEQ ID NO: 11), ACA (short) (SEQ ID NO: 13), ACT (native) (SEQ ID NO: 15), ACT (short) (SEQ ID NO: 17), MpNPR1 (SEQ ID NO:19), or CsNPR1 optionally wherein said polynucleotide is operably linked to a heterologous regulatory sequence, and wherein said regulatory sequences comprise a promoter. 
     
     
         69 . The polynucleotide of  claim 68 , wherein said polynucleotide is complementary to at least 20 contiguous nucleotides of a sequence selected from the group of HtA (native) (SEQ ID NO: 1), HtA (short) (SEQ ID NO: 3), ASAL (native) (SEQ ID NO: 5), ASALR (native) (SEQ ID NO: 7), ASALR (short) (SEQ ID NO: 9), ACA (native) (SEQ ID NO: 11), ACA (short) (SEQ ID NO: 13), ACT (native) (SEQ ID NO: 15), ACT (short) (SEQ ID NO: 17), MpNPR1 (SEQ ID NO: 19), or CsNPR1 or substantially identical to any one of the aforementioned polynucleotides.