Identification, Characterization and Cloning of Insecticidal Cry Genes

Bacillus thuringiensis is a gram positive, spore forming bacteria that produces crystal inclusions during sporulation phase. The crystals comprise one or more Cry proteins that are specifically toxic to insect orders such as Lepidoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera In the present study, Bt isolated from Rahata, Dhule, Malegaon and Chalisgaon regions of maharashtra, and were observed for colony morphology and crystal inclusions. Even though, all new isolates showed typical fried egg type colonies. All Bt isolate showed rectangular, Bipyramidal, Rhombus, pyramidal type types of inclusions in Rahata, Chalisgaon, Malegaon and Dhule. Further SDS-PAGE was carried and in protein profile 135 KDa and 133 kDa band size was observed in Bt isolates of Nashik and Rahata. In bioassay with Helicoverpa armigera by Leaf disc method and Diet contamination showed the 70 and 80 percent mortality rate in Bt isolates of Nashik and Rahata regions respectively. Malegaon and Dhule showed no toxicity.