Molecular Entomology 2024, Vol.15, No.2, 52-60 http://emtoscipublisher.com/index.php/me 54 such as Cry1Ac, Cry2A, and EPSPS into sugarcane to confer resistance to cane borers and tolerance to glyphosate herbicide (Figure 1) (Qamar et al., 2015; Wang et al., 2017; Qamar et al., 2021). These transgenic sugarcane varieties have shown remarkable resistance to pests like Chilo infuscatellus, with up to 100% mortality of the pest larvae in some cases. Additionally, these genetically modified plants have demonstrated high tolerance to glyphosate, ensuring effective weed control without damaging the crop (Wang et al., 2017; Qamar et al., 2021). Figure 1 Schematic presentation of all the steps involved in genetic modification of sugarcane (Adopted from Qamar et al., 2021) Image caption: (A) Callus for Bombardment. (B) Homemade Biolistic machine. (C) Bombarded Callus after bombardment with DNA-coated tungsten particles. (D) Bombarded callus shifted on selection media with Kanamycime (50 mg/L) after 2 days. (E,F) Transformed callus regenerated on double selection (Kanamycine 50 mg/L + Glyphosate 40 mM) media, (G,H) Regenerated sugarcane plantlets on glyphosate selection media (45 mM), shifting on shoot multiplication media with Kanamycime (50 mg/L) and glyphosate (50 mM) selections. (I) Gus Assay for transgenic plant screening (abcd). (J) Transgenic plants for rooting. (K) Shifting on rooting media without any selection drug. (L, M) Acclimatization: Transgenic sugarcane plantlets in soil pots under green house conditions (Adopted from Qamar et al., 2021) 3.3 Benefits of genetic engineering over traditional methods Genetic engineering offers several advantages over traditional breeding methods. Firstly, it allows for the precise introduction of specific traits, such as pest resistance, without the need for extensive cross-breeding and selection processes (Qamar et al., 2015). This precision reduces the time required to develop new crop varieties. Secondly, genetically engineered crops can incorporate traits that are not naturally present in the species' gene pool, such as the Cry proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis, which provide effective pest resistance (Talakayala et al., 2020; Iqbal et al., 2021). Moreover, these crops often require fewer chemical inputs, such as pesticides and herbicides, leading to reduced environmental impact and lower production costs (Birch, 1996; Verma et al., 2022). The development of transgenic sugarcane with enhanced resistance to pests and herbicides exemplifies the potential of genetic engineering to improve crop resilience and productivity, ultimately benefiting both farmers and the environment (Hilder et al., 1987; Wang et al., 2017; Qamar et al., 2021). 4 Mechanisms of Genetic Engineering for Insect Pest Resistance 4.1 Bt toxin production in sugarcane The production of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins in genetically engineered sugarcane has been a significant advancement in pest resistance. Bt toxins, such as Cry proteins, have been successfully expressed in transgenic sugarcane to combat various insect pests. These proteins act by binding to specific receptors in the insect gut, causing cell lysis and death. The introduction of Bt genes into sugarcane has shown promising results in both
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