Transgenic plants for insect resistance

• Published in: Plant Science Vol. 131; no. 1; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Authors: Jouanin, Lise, Bonadé-Bottino, Michel, Girard, Cécile, Morrot, Gil, Giband, Marc
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 15-01-1998; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; B. thuringiensis; Biological and medical sciences; Enzyme inhibitors; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Insecticidal proteins; Lectins; Pest animals; Pest resistance; Resistance management; Transgenic plants; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims; Lectins; B. thuringiensis; Enzyme inhibitors; Transgenic plants; Insecticidal proteins; Resistance management; Entomopathogen; Lectin; Insecticide; Bacillus thuringiensis; Enzyme inhibitor; Review; Bacillaceae; Gene expression; Endotoxin; Bacillales; Insect resistance; Bacteria; Genetic engineering; Transgenic plant; Cultivated plant
• ISSN: 0168-9452; 1873-2259
• DOI: 10.1016/S0168-9452(97)00239-2

Plant genetic engineering offers opportunities for the creation of insect-resistant plants by insertion and expression in planta of entomopathogenic proteins. Two main approaches to obtain such plants have been explored. The first one involves the use of delta
-endotoxin coding sequences originating from the bacterium
Bacillus thuringiensis. The second approach uses plant-derived genes, such as those encoding enzyme inhibitors or lectins. Much work throughout the world is devoted to obtaining plants of different species expressing such genes and showing resistance to insect pests. Research projects under development, and an assessment of the situation and of the problems encountered on the way to a commercial use of such transgenic plants are discussed in this review.