Effect of climate change on Bt gene expression and yield related parameters

Abstract

Climate change is a global challenge that have significant potential to change crop yields worldwide. Thus, the measurement of crop yield in terms of climate change is significant in the prospect of food security for agro-economic regions like Pakistan especially in the upcoming decades. With its largest value chain in the textile industry cotton is the most important cash crop in developing countries like Pakistan. In the current study three Bt cotton varieties viz FH-142, IUB-2013 and NIAB-878 were selected and sown in three different ecological zones i.e., Islamabad, Multan and D.I Khan for comparative morphological, yield and Bt gene expression analysis. Meanwhile meteorological data (temperature, humidity and rainfall) for all three zones were also recorded for comparison. Maximum rainfall and humidity were recorded in Islamabad during the month August 2020 and temperature was noted during the month of June 2020 at Multan. Based on results, diverse morphological responses were obtained in cultivars and growing areas. Maximum germination percentage was secured in FH-142 cultivar at Islamabad zone followed by NIAB-887 in D.I. Khan. Similarly, maximum plant height, Boll weight, Bolls per plant and yield were reported in D.I Khan in NIAB-878 cultivar while number of seeds per boll and internode distance were excellent in IUB-2013 cultivar at Islamabad and D.I Khan respectively. Early flower initiation was reported in FH-142 at Multan as compared to other cultivars and zones. GOT was high in Multan area where there were no any significant differences observed in other varieties and zones as well. At 90 DAS, Cry1Ac gene expression was checked from the leaves of all cultivars grown under three ecological zones through ELISA. ELISA results of Cry1Ac protein exhibited that maximum expression was secured in NIAB-878 at Islamabad followed by IUB-2013 at D.I Khan respectively. It has been concluded that NIAB-878 performed well in yield and boll weight at D.I khan and Multan while Bt gene expression was higher at Islamabad.