Production of transgenic tomato plants expressing Cry 2Ab gene for the control of some lepidopterous insects endemic in Egypt

Transgenic tomato (cv. Money maker) over expressing Bt (Cry 2Ab) gene was produced using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method. Molecular and biochemical analysis confirmed the expression and integration of the transgene into tomato genome. Obvious effects of Cry 2Ab were judged by the mortality of the American bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and the potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) when fed on Bt tomato. These results indicate that a significant amount of Bt protein was present in all of the transgenic lines and that plants expressing Cry 2Ab gene could be used for management of the target lepidopteran insect pests endemic in Egypt.