Application and Development of Bt Insect Resistance Genes in Rice Breeding

Abstract

As pests are an important factor in reducing crop yields, pest control is an important measure in preventing reductions in crop yields. With the aim of ending the use of chemical pesticides, biological control and genetically modified methods are now considered more reasonable pest control strategies. The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) can produce crystal proteins that have specific toxicity to lepidopteran insects, and so it has been applied as a microbial insecticide in the control of crop pests for several decades. With the development of plant genetic engineering, Bt genes encoding insecticidal crystal protein have been introduced into many crop species for pest control. This article indicates that, after years of experiments and research, Bt transgenic rice is close to becoming a commercial insect-resistant rice, and many studies have shown that transgenic rice has pronounced abilities in the control of pests such as yellow stem borers (Scirpophaga incertulas, YSB), striped stem borers (Chilo suppressalis, SSB), and rice leaf rollers (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, RLR); moreover, it does not obviously differ from non-transgenic rice in terms of safety. This paper suggests that transgenic Bt rice has application potential and commercial value.

Bt-Modified Transgenic Rice May Shift the Composition and Diversity of Rhizosphere Microbiota

“…In order to address the needs of the food supply, land degradation problems and chronic water shortages, the Chinese government initiated a $3.5 billion GM crop initiative project to research and develop GM plants [15]. Early studies in China were promising, and planting pest-resistant crops such as transgenic Bt rice has provided benefits to farmers by reducing pesticide use and labor input [16]. However, addressing the increasingly stringent guidelines set by the consumer and regulatory authorities to evaluate and assess the safety of genetically modified organisms in the environment remains a major challenge in GM crop development [17].…”

Advances in the Biosynthesis of Terpenoids and Their Ecological Functions in Plant Resistance

“…For example, in the most widely used Bt transgenic crops, the Bt protein has the ability to specifically kill target pests. Hence, introducing this gene into crops through plant transgenic technology can provide them with some resistance against pests [2][3][4][5][6]. However, given the increasing prevalence of insect pests resistant to the Bt protein in recent years, other methods need to be developed as candidates for pest control.…”