<p style="text-align: justify;">Event COT102 cotton was produced by <i>Agrobacterium</i>-mediated transformation of the cotton variety &lsquo;Coker 312.&rsquo; Transformation was achieved using the vector pCOT1, which contained sequences corresponding to a synthetic <i>vip3A(a)</i> gene from <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> strain AB88 coding for the vegetative insecticidal protein VIP3A, and the <i>aph4</i> gene from <i>E. coli</i>, coding for hygromycin-B phosphotransferase (APH4), an enzyme which confers resistance to the antibiotic hygromycin. Transcription of the <i>vip3A(a)</i> gene was directed by modified promoter sequences of the <i>actin-2</i> gene from <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>, including the first exon and intron from the non-translated leader sequence. Terminator and polyadenylation sequences were derived from the 3&#39; nontranslated terminator sequences of the nopaline synthase (<i>nos</i>) gene from <i>Agrobacterium tumefaciens</i>. The expression of the <i>aph4</i> gene was regulated by promoter sequences, as well as the first intron of the <i>ubiquitin-3</i> gene from <i>A. thaliana</i>. Terminator and polyadelination sequences for the <i>aph4</i> gene were identical to those used for the <i>vip3A(a)</i> gene. Vector backbone sequences included the streptomycin adenyltransferase (<i>aadA</i>) gene, which confers resistance to streptomycin and spectinomycin, and was used as a bacterial selectable marker.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">The expression of the <i>aph4</i> gene in successfully transformed cells allowed their selection on culture medium containing hygromycin. Successful transformants were regenerated and tested for resistance to lepidopteran pests. The successful event was designated COT102, was selfed to produce seed, and subsequently backcrossed into commercial cotton germplasm.</p>
