TRANSGENIC PLANTS FOR INSECT RESISTANCE

Plant genetic engineering offers opportunities for the creation of ins ect-resistant plants by insertion and expression in planta of entomopa thogenic proteins. Two main approaches to obtain such plants have been explored. The first one involves the use of delta-endotoxin coding se quences originating from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. The sec ond approach uses plant-derived genes, such as those encoding enzyme i nhibitors or lectins. Much work throughout the world is devoted to obt aining plants of different species expressing such genes and showing r esistance to insect pests. Research projects under development, and an assessment of the situation and of the problems encountered on the wa y to a commercial use of such transgenic plants are discussed in this review. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.