ABSTRACT
The management of insect pests in agriculture is a critical challenge for ensuring sustainable and productive crop production. Traditional pest control methods, such as the use of chemical insecticides, have been effective to some extent, but their long-term sustainability is questionable due to concerns about environmental impact and the development of insecticide resistance. As a result, alternative pest management strategies that are environmentally friendly and economically viable have gained significant attention. Among these strategies, host plant resistance (HPR) has emerged as a promising approach. Host plant resistance involves the development and utilization of crop varieties that possess natural or induced mechanisms to deter or tolerate insect pests. These mechanisms can include physical barriers, such as trichomes or waxy layers, chemical compounds that repel or poison insects, or physiological traits that inhibit insect feeding or development. By incorporating such traits into crop plants, HPR aims to reduce insect pest damage, decrease reliance on chemical pesticides, and promote sustainable agriculture. This chapter provides an overview of the host plant resistance approach against insect pests and its sustainable management. It discusses the different types of resistance mechanisms employed in crop plants and the strategies used for their enhancement, including conventional breeding techniques, genetic engineering, and marker-assisted selection. The benefits and challenges associated with HPR implementation are examined, including the potential for resistance breakdown due to the evolution of insect populations.
