The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of

University of Iowa Research Foundation

Biotechnology Research and Development Corporation

United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

The Ohio State University

Novartis Finance Corporation

Patrick F Dowd

Donald T Wicklow

James B Gloer

Robert J Bartelt

Jodi A Laakso

Mark R TePaske

Richard J Cole

Ali A Alfatafta

Gail M Staub

Florecita S deGuzman

Juan J Estruch

Martha S Wright

Stephen R Hughes

Laura S Privalle

Fernando E Vega

Gilbert N Belofsky

Martha Beale Hill

Brad L Rinderknecht

Lawrence Mark Lagrimini

Ronald F Vesonder

Samuel K Shen

Lycotoxin-1 peptide mutant peptides which exhibit increased insecticidal activity are produced by substitution of both a proline for the lysine at amino acid position 24 and a tryptophan for the leucine at amino acid position 25 of the wild-type amino acid sequence for lycotoxin-1. Further substitution of amino acids 8, 9 or 10 of the lycotoxin-1 wild-type amino acid sequence, specifically substituting a histidine for the phenylalanine at amino acid position 8, a glutamine for the glycine at amino acid position 10, or a serine for the leucine at amino acid position 9, provides an even greater increase in insecticidal activity. In addition to changes in the lycotoxin-1 amino acid sequence, the addition of an enterokinase K recognition site, DDDK, to the N-terminus of the lycotoxin-1 peptide increases insecticidal activity further still. Isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding the mutant lycotoxin-1 peptides, expression vectors containing these sequences, microorganisms or other host cells transformed with these vectors, and recombinant methods for producing the peptides, are also disclosed.

Mutant lycotoxin-1 peptide sequences for insecticidal and cell membrane altering properties

The present invention relates, in general, to methods and compositions for controlling insects in monocotyledonous plants (monocots), particularly maize. More precisely, the present invention relates to (1) a method for controlling insects comprising feeding or contacting an insect with an insecticidal amount of transgenic monocotyledonous plant cells comprising a recombinant DNA sequence comprising a coding sequence encoding peroxidase and (2) a fertile transgenic monocot plant comprising a recombinant DNA sequence comprising a coding sequence encoding peroxidase.

Methods for conferring insect resistance to a monocot using a

Carbonarins A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H have been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungus Aspergillus carbonarius. The carbonarius are effective for controlling Coleopteran and Lepidopteran insects. The carbonarins have the structure: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy group; R.sub.2 is a hydrogen atom or a methoxy group; R.sub.3 is a hydrogen atom or a naphthopyrone group; and X is an oxygen atom or an NH group.

Carbonarin antiinsectan metabolites

Carbonarins A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H have been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungus Aspergillus carbonarius. The carbonarins are effective for controlling Coleopteran and Lepidopteran insects. The carbonarins have the structure: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy group; R.sub.2 is a hydrogen atom or a methoxy group; R.sub.3 is a hydrogen atom or a naphthopyrone group; and X is an oxygen atom or an NH group.

Shearinines A, B and C, and 21-Isopentenylpaxilline are ascostromatal metabolites of the fungus Eupenicillium shearii. These indole alkaloid compounds are effective for controlling Coleopteran and Lepidopteran insects and the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda.

Indole antiinsectan metabolites from the ascostromata of Eupenicillium

A device for use with a funnel drop-type trap for autoinoculation of active agents with insects. The device comprises a collecting chamber, an entrance near the top of the chamber for entry of the insects from the trap and for direction of the insects to the agent positioned on the surface below the entrance. At least one exit for escape of the insects is located on the sidewall of the chamber.

Autoinoculating device for contaminating insects with active agents

Sulpinine C, secopenitrem B and 10-oxo-11,33-dihydropenitrem B indole compounds have been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungi Aspergillus sulphureus. Aflatrem B has been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungi Aspergillus flavus, and 14-hydroxypaspalinine and 14-(N,N-dimethylvalyloxy)paspalinine have been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungi Aspergillus nomius. The indole compounds are effective for controlling Coleopteran and Lepidopteran insects.

Indole antiinsectan metabolites

Diketopiperazine compounds designated N-methylepiamauromine, epiamauromine and cycloechinulin have been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungi Aspergillus ochraceus. The compounds are effective for controlling Coleopteran and Lepidopteran insects. The compounds have the structures: ##STR1## wherein: R is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, such that the compound formed when R is a hydrogen atom is designated epiamauromine and the compound formed when R is a methyl group is designated N-methylepiamauromine; and cycloechinulin has the structure: ##STR2##

N-methylepiamauromine, epiamauromine and cycloechinulin antiinsectan

A novel N-methoxy-2-pyridone designated leporin A has been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungus, Aspergillus leporis. Leporin A is characterized by the structural formula ##STR1## and is effective for controlling Lepidopteran insect pests.

Leporin A, an antiinsectan fungal metabolite

A diketopiperazine compound designated cycloechinulin has been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungi Aspergillus ochraceus. The compound is effective for controlling Coleopteran and Lepidopteran insects. Cycloechinulin has the structure: ##STR1##

Cycloechinulin antiinsectan metabolite

A tetrahydroquinoline alkaloid compound named 'aspernomine' has been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungus Aspergillus nomius. Aspernomine has the structure: ##STR1## and is effective for controlling Lepidopteran insects.

Aspernomine, an antiinsectan metabolite

The attractiveness of the male-produced aggregation pheromones from nitidulid beetles is greatly enhanced by certain organophosphorus insecticides. Combinations of pheromone and insecticide typically attract substantially more beetles than the pheromone alone, and the combinations afford the advantage of both attracting and killing the beetles.

Organophosphorus insecticides as synergizicides for Carpophilus spp.

Indole compounds named 'sulphinine' and 'secopenitrem' have been isolated from the sclerotia of from fungi Aspergillus sulphureus. An indole compound named 'aflatrem B' has been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungi Aspergillus flavus. The compounds are effective for controlling Coleopteran and Lepidopteran insects.

Sulpinine, secopenitrem B and aflatrem B antiinsectan metabolites

Indole diterpene compounds named 'radarin' have been isolated from the sclerotia of the fungus Aspergillus sulphureus. The radarins are effective for controlling Lepidopteran insects, and have the structures: ##STR1## wherein the compound formed when R is a hydroxyl group is designated radarin A and the compound formed when R is a hydrogen atom is designated radarin C; and ##STR2## wherein the compound formed when R is a hydrogen atom is designated radarin D and the compound formed when R is a hydroxyl group is designated radarin B.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Patrick F Dowd