https://stm2.bookpi.org/GEPIPCMAB <p>Dr. Santhosh D. B., the main author of the book on Genetically Engineered (GE) Plants in Insect Pest Control, expresses gratitude to readers for their interest in the book. The compilation is a result of collaborative efforts with co-authors and aims to present diverse aspects of the biology relating to GE-Plants in pest management. The content reflects ongoing updates and developments in the field, derived from thorough reviews of research papers, discussions (both formal and informal), and the formation of initial drafts, which took approximately two to three months to finalize. Starting from my initial tryst with “Genetic Engineering” to analyse genomes of domesticated and wild Mushrooms as an MSc Project. Subsequent to this I used several DNA investigation methods as part of my PhD in Identification and molecular characterization of mushrooms and Biofortification of Iron and Zinc in Aerobic rice lines. Since, The adoption of <em>Bt </em>plants in agriculture offers numerous advantages, including enhanced efficiency in controlling insect pest populations, a significant reduction in the application of chemical insecticides, and the promotion of natural enemy populations within agricultural landscapes, which can contribute to ecosystem balance and sustainability, it was natural to compile diverse literature into a Book to give the reader a flavour of the role of Genetically Engineered (GE) Plants in Insect Pest Control. Since the co-authors are from diverse areas of interest and expertise, viz., Zoology, Microbiology, Plant Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology and a few in the company, we were able to gather literature on contemporary and relevant topics of interest to the science community. Coupled to the above motive, a desire to serve the temples of knowledge (University, Colleges) is also tagged as described in Indian spiritual literature.</p> en-US Genetically Engineered Plants in Insect Pest Control: Mechanisms, Applications and Biosafety https://stm2.bookpi.org/GEPIPCMAB/article/view/1567 <p>Genetically engineered plants expressing insecticidal traits constitute an important component of contemporary pest-management systems. This manuscript reviews the mechanisms, applications and biosafety considerations associated with genetically modified crops developed for insect pest control, with emphasis on Bt cotton, Bt brinjal, Bt maize and Bt soybean. It explains how <em>Bacillus thuringiensis</em>-derived Cry and Vip proteins suppress target pests through ingestion, solubilisation and activation in the insect midgut, followed by receptor binding, pore formation, epithelial disruption and larval mortality. The review also discusses emerging approaches, including gene pyramiding, RNA interference, host-induced gene silencing and trait stacking, as strategies for improving the durability and specificity of pest-control technologies. Across the four crop systems, the manuscript indicates that genetically engineered pest-resistant crops can reduce dependence on broad-spectrum insecticides and support integrated pest management when deployed with appropriate stewardship. However, the benefits are influenced by crop type, pest complex, agroecological setting, seed quality, regulatory conditions and farmer access to technical support. Key concerns include resistance evolution, secondary pest emergence, biosafety assessment, non-target effects and the need for continuous monitoring. The manuscript therefore presents genetically engineered pest-resistant crops as useful but management-dependent tools that must be integrated with ecological, agronomic and regulatory practices to support sustainable crop protection.</p> Santhosh Doddarampura Basavaraju Copyright (c) 2026 Author(s). The licensee is the publisher (BP International). 2026-08-06 2026-08-06 1 98 10.9734/bpi/mono/978-81-69986-21-2