Abstract
The aim of this study was to screen the Bacillus thuringiensis ( Bt ) strains isolated from local ecological niche for the presence of vegetative insecticidal protein ( vip ) genes and its characterization. PCR screening was carried out to determine different vip genes viz., vip1 / vip2 and vip3 genes, harboured by native Bt isolates using four gene specific primers. The PCR results depicted the presence of all three vip -type genes in these isolates. Strains containing vip3 -type genes were the most abundant (12.5%) in local isolates, followed by vip1 / vip2 -type genes (10%). Insect bioassays for these proteins were conducted against Helicoverpa armigera ( H. armigera ). Four Bt isolates PDKV-08 (161.80), PDKV-21 (173.62), NCIM-5110 (170.57) and NCIM-5132 (178.61) depict lower LC 50 values against H. armigera than the standard HD-1 (190.42). The present foundation work can be used for the production of more effective Bt based biopesticide and the identified genes can be explored for the production of next generation insect resistant transgenic plants.
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