Transgenic chickpea seeds expressing high levels of a bean a-amylase inhibitor

We describe a robust and reproducible Agrobacterium-mediated chickpea transformation method based on kanamycin selection, and its use to introduce the bean AI1 gene into a desi type of chickpea. Bean AI1 was specifically expressed in the seeds, accumulated up to 4.2% of seed protein and was processed to low molecular weight polypeptides as occurs in bean seeds. The transgenic protein was active as an inhibitor of porcine a-amylase in vitro. Transgenic chickpeas containing a-AI1 strongly inhibited the development of Callosobruchus maculatus and C. chinensis in insect bioassays.