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Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology ›› 2018, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (8): 2583-2589.doi: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.201808.030

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Effects of soil salinity on Bt protein content and nitrogen metabolic physiology in boll shell of Bt cotton

WANG Yong-hui1,2, CHEN Jian-ping1, SUN Yan-ru1, ZHANG Xiang2, CHEN De-hua2*   

  1. 1Institute of Agricultural Sciences of Jiangsu Coastal Area/Observation and Experimental Station of Saline Land of Costal Area, Ministry of Agriculture, Yancheng 224401, Jiangsu, China;
    2Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology of Jiangsu Province, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, China.
  • Received:2017-11-19 Online:2018-08-20 Published:2018-08-20
  • Supported by:

    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31501267), the National Key Research and Development Support Program of China (2016YFD0101421), the Technology Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (SYSFHT), the Jiangsu “Three-innovation” Agricultural Project [SXGC(2016)320], and the Jiangsu Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Fund [CX(14)2065].

Abstract: In order to clarify the effects of soil salinity on the insect-resistance of boll in transgenic Bt cotton, potted plants of two Bt cotton cultivars Xinmian 33B (salt-sensitive) and Zhong 07 (salt-tolerant) were exposed to five levels of soil salinity (0, 0.15%, 0.30%, 0.45% and 0.60%). The results showed that Bt protein content of boll shell decreased with increasing soil salinity. Compared with the control (0% soil salinity level), the Bt protein content of boll shell decreased significantly when the soil salinity level was above 0.15% for Xinmian 33B and above 0.30% for Zhong 07. The reduction extent of Bt protein content of boll shell at 30 days post anthesis (DPA) was greater than that at 10 DPA under the same soil salinity level. Significant reductions of soluble protein contents, nitrate reductase (NR), and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) activities were observed when the boll shell Bt protein content was significantly reduced. The content of free amino acid, protease, and peptidase activity of boll shell significantly increased when the soil salinity level was above 0.30%. In conclusion, soil salinity affected boll shell nitrogen metabolism and reduced Bt protein synthesis. Middle and high soil salinity levels could enhance decomposition of Bt protein, which further decreases the expression level of insecticidal protein.