Genetically Engineered Crops: Importance of Diversified Integrated Pest Management for Agricultural Sustainability

Abstract

As the global population continues to expand, utilizing an integrated approach to pest management will be critically important for food security, agricultural sustainability, and environmental protection. Genetically engineered (GE) crops that provide protection against insects and diseases, or tolerance to herbicides are important tools that complement a diversified integrated pest management (IPM) plan. However, despite the advantages that GE crops may bring for simplifying the approach and improving efficiency of pest and weed control, there are also challenges for successful implementation and sustainable use. This paper considers how several GE traits, including those that confer protection against insects by expression of proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), traits that confer tolerance to herbicides, and RNAi-based traits that confer resistance to viral pathogens, can be key elements of a diversified IPM plan for several different crops in both developed and developing countries. Additionally, we highlight the importance of community engagement and extension, strong partnership between industry, regulators and farmers, and education and training programs, for achieving long-term success. By leveraging the experiences gained with these GE crops, understanding the limitations of the technology, and considering the successes and failures of GE traits in IPM plans for different crops and regions, we can improve the sustainability and versatility of IPM plans that incorporate these and future technologies.

Halo-tolerant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria for improving productivity and remediation of saline soils

“…Apart from physical and chemical approaches, several other methods such as modification in breeding practices, shifting of crop calendars and introduction of genetically engineered salt-tolerant plant varieties have been evaluated for enhancement of crop productivity in salt-affected soils but have largely proved to be in-effective [19] , [20] . These methods are time-consuming, costly and above all, cause genetic erosion of indigenous species [21] , [22] .…”

Novel mechanism of thrips suppression by Cry51Aa2.834_16 Bt toxin expressed in cotton

“…8,9 In the future, the discovery and deployment of novel GE toxins targeting new insect orders will be important to further reduce yield losses, protect farmer profit, and minimize environmentally disruptive pesticide use. 10 Bayer has developed MON 88702 cotton, the first crop that expresses Cry51Aa2.834_16 Bt toxin to control targeted hemipteran and thysanopteran crop pests. 11,12 The Cry51Aa2.834_16 Bt toxin (hereafter referred to as MON 88702) expressed in cotton was modified to selectively enhance insecticidal activity against piercing-sucking pests.…”

Biocontrol Potential of a Novel Endophytic Bacterium From Mulberry (Morus) Tree

“…Clearly, the production of all of these antibiotic and insecticidal compounds suggests that B. amyloliquefaciens ZJU1 is a good candidate for the development of biocontrol strategies against emerging gray mold-related infectious diseases and notorious lepidopteran pests, for instance, through artificial inoculation of the soil/rhizosphere or seeds/seedlings and direct injection into plant tissues. Considering the complete genome sequence reported here and its amenability to genetic manipulation, ZJU1 could be further engineered to increase plant performance, as it was recently shown that engineering of the banana endosphere microbiome improved Fusarium wilt resistance in banana (Anderson et al, 2019;Liu et al, 2019). Our study therefore highlights that expanding the investigation of the plant microbiome could lead to additional successful discoveries of unexplored novel microbial symbionts with biotechnological potential.…”