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.