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Genetic Manipulation for Pest Resistance
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Humans have explored for crop plants that are able to survive and reproduce in spite of harmful pests, for centuries. Nowadays, with the aid of novel genetic engineering techniques, genes for pest resistance can be inserted into plants more deliberately and quickly. One of the key successes of applying genetic engineering techniques to plants in agriculture are pest resistant crops. Major examples include Gossypium hirsutum (cotton) resistant to caterpillars (lepidopteran larve) and Zea mays (maize) resistant to rootworms (both coleopteran and lepidopteran larve). These crops have been broadly utilized in agriculture and have led to reduced use of pesticides and lesser production costs. Other examples are;

Pesticide resistant rape plants – Researchers have genetically modified the rape plant by transferring a gene to it which makes the plant resistant to certain pesticides. Therefore when the farmer sprays the rape crops that are genetically modified, with pesticides most of the pests are destroyed without causing any harm to rape plants. The farmer has advantages such as high yield and requires lesser crop sprays. The major disadvantage can be modified rape plant can crosses with wild plant to produce tough pesticide-resistant strain (superweed). Researchers have also genetically modified soya beans and sugar cane etc so they are capable of tolerating crop spray.

Insecticide sweet corn – Researchers have genetically altered sweet corn so that it produces a toxin (Bt- corn). The advantage is that the farmer no longer requires insecticides to kill insects. The major disadvantage is that this type of genetically altered corn can poison the insects with long term usage and the farmer may need to spray the crops more than once. By this means the insects can become resistant or accustomed to the poison and render Bt-corn ineffective. The other examples of plants that are genetically modified to produce insecticide include, cotton and potatoes.
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RE: Genetic Manipulation for Pest Resistance - by adimed - 10-07-2013, 05:08 PM
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