ABSTRACT
There is a continuing need to increase food production to meet food requirements in the future, particularly in the developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Several biotic and abiotic constraints are a limiting factor in increasing the production and productivity of food crops. Losses due to insect pests, which represent one of the largest constraints in crop production, have been estimated at 14% of the total agricultural production (Oerke et al., 1994). In addition, insects also act as vectors of various plant pathogens, and the annual cost for controlling pest damage has been estimated to be US$10 billion. Largescale application of insecticides for insect control results in toxic residues in food and food products, in addition to adverse effects on the nontarget organisms in the environment. Furthermore, the cost-benefi t ratio of such practices can easily become negative in marginal cropping systems, particularly when other factors such as diseases or drought become a limiting factor in crop production. The losses due to insect pests can be minimized effectively through host plant resistance to insects through conventional plant breeding and use of biotechnological approaches.
