Abstract

The cowpea trypsin inhibitor gene from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), which confers resistance to insect pests, has been inserted into strawberry cultivars by Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. Glasshouse trials in which transformants were challenged by larvae of Otiorhynchus sulcatus established that this heterologous gene may have value in the soft fruit industry and it is envisaged that plants containing this gene will be resistant to chewing insects. The identification and isolation of a gene encoding a polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein (PGIP) from raspberry gives the opportunity to evaluate it in soft fruit crops as a source of resistance to Botrytis cinerea. Field trials of genetically modified strawberries have started and the implications of such trialling are discussed.