Diseases and insect pests are major limiting factors for crop production, resulting in heavy losses in productivity and quality. Classical resistance breeding has produced numerous resistance varieties; however, such breeding is time consuming, limited by available resistance resources, and can be overcome by evolving pathogens and insect populations. Biotechnology offers advanced and precise methodologies for identification, transfer, modification and silencing of resistance genes. This chapter discusses various biotechnological techniques for producing disease and insect resistant crops. Such techniques include molecular markers and marker assisted selection (MAS), genetic engineering, genome editing and RNA interference (RNAi). With MAS, early selection of resistance genes and pyramiding of several resistance genes becomes possible. Genetic engineering has led to development of insect-resistant crops due to Bt insecticidal proteins and to pathogen-resistant crops due to pathogen-derived resistance and defense genes. Meganucleases, zinc finger nucleases, TALEN and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing techniques are used for targeted editing of susceptibility and defense genes. RNAi technique allows for sequence-specific silencing of essential genes in pathogens and insects. The integration of traditional breeding methods with marker-assisted selection (MAS), genetic engineering, genome editing, and RNA interference could help create broad-spectrum and durable resistance. These integrated methods would decrease reliance on chemical pesticides for crop protection and sustainable agriculture.
Biotechnology Approaches for Disease and Pest Resistance
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