Insect Resistance plants !!!

 Can plants be insect resistant ?

So must be you thinking what a joke is going to be explained here, but mind it, it is not joke but reality that is practiced. Read the blog carefully it might change your perception.

So the answer for the question yes one of the example is "BT COTTON".

So have you heard about "BT Cotton" if not then please read the blog below

What is BT Cotton ?

BT Cotton. Soil Bacterium Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT for short) produces proteins that kills certain insects like lepidopterans (tobacco budworm, armyworm), Coleopterans (beetles) and Dipterans (Flies, Mosquitoes). Bacillus Thuringiensis form some protein crystals. These crystals contain a toxic "insecticidal protein"

Why does this toxin not kill the Bacillus (Bacterium)?

The BT Toxin exist as inactive protoxins but once an insect ingest the inactive toxins it is converted into an active form of toxin due to Alkaline pH of alimentary canal that solubilizes the crystal.  

The activate toxins binds to the surface of midgut epithelial cells and create pores which cell swelling and lysis and finally death of the insect.

How BT Cotton is made ?

BT Toxin genes were isolated from Bacillus Thuringiensis and incorporated into various crop plants like cotton. The choice of genes depend on the type of crop and targeted pest as most BT toxins are insect group specific. 

The toxin is coded by a gene named cry. There are number of genes, cry IAc and cry II Ab have been incorporated in the cotton. The genetically modified crop called BT Cotton as it contains BT Toxin genes. Gene cry IAc and cry II Ab control cotton bollworm and cry IAb protect the same from corn borer.