Bioscience Methods 2024, Vol.15, No.3, 139-148 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/bm 143 larvae in bioassays (Figure 3) (Dessoky et al., 2020; Qamar et al., 2021). For instance, transgenic sugarcane lines with medium copies of the cry1Ac gene exhibited elite phenotypes and strong resistance to stem borers, as confirmed by transcriptome analysis (Zhou et al., 2018). Moreover, the overexpression of CaneCPI-1, a cysteine peptidase inhibitor, in transgenic sugarcane negatively affected the growth and development of the sugarcane weevil, Sphenophorus levis, reducing larval weight by 50% compared to non-transgenic plants (Schneider et al., 2016). Figure 2 A model process of transgenic sugarcane responses to insect attack and heat maps of endogenous borer-stress related differentially expressed genes (Adopted from Zhou et al., 2018) Image caption: a A model process of transgenic sugarcane responses to insect attack; b Heat maps of endogenous borer-stress related differentially expressed genes. CDPKs, OPDAs, MAPKs, JAR1, JAZs and MYC2: induced defense proteins related to insect attack; DIMBOA/DIBOA: hydroxamic acids, direct defense proteins related to insect attack (Adopted from Zhou et al., 2018) 4.4 Lessons learned and implications for future research The successful integration of insect resistance genes into sugarcane highlights the potential of genetic engineering in crop protection. However, several challenges remain. Ensuring stable and high-level expression of transgenes is crucial for long-term resistance. Additionally, the potential for resistance development in target pests necessitates the implementation of resistance management strategies, such as rotating different resistance genes and integrating biotechnological approaches with traditional pest management practices (Srikanth et al., 2011; Verma et al., 2018). Future research should focus on exploring new resistance genes, optimizing gene expression, and assessing the environmental impact of transgenic sugarcane to ensure sustainable and effective pest control (Douglas, 2018; Iqbal et al., 2021).
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