Maize

Gene Function

For resistance to Lepidoptera pests, the maize expresses Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab, which causes pore formation in the midgut epithelial cells of larvae and results in loss of gut lining integrity and eventual death. For drought tolerance, the maize expresses Bacillus subtilis cold shock protein (cspB), which binds RNA and maintains cellular functions under water-limited conditions (improvement of natural abiotic stress responses).