Management of Insect Pest Resistance while Using Transgenic Plants

Pest resistance is a serious global problem. Over 600 pests (insects, weeds, pathogens) are reported to have developed resistance to chemical pesticides. Several important pests have overcome, or have the potential to develop resistance to, plant defensive mechanisms through conventional plant breeding and biotechnology. Durability of plant defense mechanisms is especially critical in the rapidly advancing area of plant genetic transformation which is primarily focusing on the use of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) genes to impart pest resistance in several important crops. Several major private and public sector organizations are now focusing on creating transgenic plants with the engineered d-endotoxin from Bt. There are now reports of resistance to Bt in both laboratory and field strains of various insect pests. The broad application of Bt technology has a very high potential to accelerate the instances of resistance to Bt and radically reduce its utility. Strategies to delay the development of resistance while using Bt engineered plants are many and would need to be experimented under the different agro-ecosystems of developing countries. A brief description of the various strategies available for experimentation is discussed