Bt Crops

Transgenic crops are Bacillus thuringiensis or (Bt) crops. These crops’ plant cells release a toxin that is comparable to that produced by the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria. This provides natural pest protection for crops.

The bacterium produces substances known as “cry proteins,” which are crystal proteins (short for “cry” proteins). Pests are poisoned by these proteins. When a pest eats on Bt crops, the cry protein found in plant cells crystallises and kills the bug’s digestive tract. The proteins, on the other hand, have no negative impact on human digestion.

Bt Bacterium

Bt Bacillus thuringiensis, often known as Bacterium Bt, is a spore-forming, gram-positive bacterium found primarily in soil. It’s capable of secreting chemicals that kill insects. Farmers that practice organic farming spray a solution containing this bacterium on their crops as a pest-repellent technique.

Use  of Bt 

It all began in 1996 with the use of modest amounts of Bt bacterial genes in research. Cry proteins were formed in plant cells as a result of this.

Bt is effective against a variety of crop-destroying pests, including the Southwestern and European corn borer, cotton and tobacco budworm, Colorado potato beetle, and pink bollworm.

Advantages of Bt Crops

1.It helps to increase productivity by killing main pests and protecting crops. Farmers’ income rises as a result, and farm production rises as well.

2.Soil contamination has decreased since Btcrops require less synthetic pesticides.

3.Bt Crops aid in the protection of ecosystem-friendly insects. They are frequently killed by synthetic pesticides.

4.Farmers may reap the benefits of disease-free and healthier crops.

5.Btcrop cultivation yields more yields in a less space.

Drawbacks Of Bt Crops

Bt crops have a number of drawbacks.

1.Bt Crops are more expensive than conventional crops.

2.Some experts are concerned that Btgene will impair natural gene flow.

3.Pests may develop tolerance to cry proteins over time, rendering Bt Crops worthless against them.

India’s two most famous Bt crops

1. BtCotton Bt Cotton was introduced in India in 2002 through a joint venture between Mahyco and Monsanto. In 2011, India produced the most Bt or GM (genetically modified) cotton, covering 10.6 million hectares. Cotton bollworm, the cotton bollworm’s main pest, is successfully killed by this cotton.

2.Bt Brinjal 

Bt Brinjal was first grown in India in 2008, utilising gene technology similar to that used in Bt Cotton. Mahyco, a well-known Maharashtra hybrid seed firm, took the lead in creating GM brinjal. The commercialisation of this brinjal was permitted by the Indian government in 2009. This brinjal was resistant to the FSB – Fruit and Shoot Borer – which is known for destroying up to 95% of fruits and causing a 70% crop loss.

Bt crops are fantastic, yet they are divisive. These are genetically modified plants, and there is a lot of controversy and misinformation surrounding them. According to some researchers, one of the most serious concerns about Bt crops is that pests would evolve resistance to the cry proteins. Bt would be rendered ineffective as a result of this.

This is already happening in the case of Bt Cotton, where the bollworm is beginning to display cry protein resistance. The phrase “nothing lasts forever” seems to apply to Bt crops as well.

Conclusion 

We conclude that bacteria have genes for various insect-toxic proteins in its genome. Bt has been used as an organic pesticide on fields for decades; numerous key maize pests that are difficult and expensive to manage with chemical insecticides are responsive to Bt.