Molecular Entomology 2024, Vol.15, No.2, 52-60 http://emtoscipublisher.com/index.php/me 58 In summary, while genetic engineering holds promise for enhancing sugarcane resistance to insect pests, several challenges and limitations must be addressed. Technical challenges in gene editing, public perception and acceptance, and economic considerations and market adoption are critical factors that influence the successful implementation and commercialization of genetically engineered sugarcane (Arruda, 2012; Tyagi et al., 2020; Budeguer et al., 2021; Krishna et al., 2023). Figure 2 The sugarcane events approved for domestic or non-domestic cultivation (Adopted from Verma et al., 2022) 8 Future Perspectives and Research Directions 8.1 Innovations in genetic engineering techniques The future of enhancing sugarcane resistance to insect pests lies in the continuous innovation of genetic engineering techniques. Recent advancements such as CRISPR/Cas9 and Host-Induced Gene Silencing (HIGS) have shown promising results in providing sustainable control of insect pests in sugarcane. These techniques allow for precise genetic modifications, enabling the development of sugarcane varieties with enhanced resistance to a broad spectrum of pests. Additionally, the overexpression of cry proteins, vegetative insecticidal proteins (vip), lectins, and proteinase inhibitors (PI) has been successfully implemented in transgenic sugarcane, demonstrating significant resistance to various insect pests (Srikanth et al., 2011; Narayan et al., 2020; Iqbal et al., 2021). Future research should focus on optimizing these techniques to ensure stable and high-level expression of resistance genes, as well as exploring new insecticidal proteins and their combinations to delay resistance development in pests (Riaz et al., 2020). 8.2 Integrating genetic engineering with other pest management strategies While genetic engineering provides a powerful tool for pest resistance, integrating it with other pest management strategies can enhance its effectiveness and sustainability. Diversified Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plans that combine Genetically Engineered (GE) crops with traditional methods such as crop rotation, biological control, and the use of refuges can help manage resistance development in pest populations (Anderson et al., 2019). For instance, the use of Bt crops has been shown to reduce reliance on chemical insecticides, but the evolution of resistance in some pest species necessitates the integration of other control measures (Tabashnik et al., 2023). By leveraging the strengths of both genetic engineering and conventional pest management strategies, a more robust and sustainable approach to pest control in sugarcane can be achieved (Wang et al., 2017; Qamar et al., 2021). 8.3 Long-term sustainability and monitoring Ensuring the long-term sustainability of genetically engineered sugarcane requires continuous monitoring and management of resistance development in pest populations. Regular resistance monitoring, as demonstrated in the global analysis of Bt crops, is crucial for detecting early signs of resistance and implementing timely management
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