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In $Bt$ cotton, the $Bt$ toxin present in plant tissue as protoxin is converted into active toxin due to
action of gut microorganisms
presence of conversion factors in insect gut
alkaline $ pH$ of the insect gut
acidic $ pH $ of the insect gut.
Solution
(c) : Soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis produces proteins that kill certain insects like lepidopterans (tobacco budworm, armyworm), coleopterans (beetles) and dipterans (flies, mosquitoes). B.thuringiensis forms some protein crystals. These crystals contain a toxic insecticidal protein. This toxin does not kill the Bacillus (bacterium) because it exists as inactive protoxins in them. But, once an insect ingests it, it is converted into an active form of toxin due to the alkaline $pH$ of the alimentary canal. The activated toxin binds to the surface of midgut epithelial cells and create pores that cause swelling and lysis and finally cause death of the insect.
Similar Questions
Match the columns :
Column – $I$ | Column – $II$ |
$(1)$ Corn | $(a)$ Boll worms |
$(2)$ Tobacco | $(b)$ Book worms |
$(3)$ Cotton | $(c)$ Cornborer |
$(d)$ Milade gain Inkoganitia |