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Insect Resistance to Cry Proteins -

There are some reports on development of resistance in some insects to Cry proteins. For example, Plodia interpunctella and Cadra cautella were selected by continuous exposure to high levels of B. thuringiensis. There was a >250-fold increase in resistance in P. interpunctella after 36 generations, and a seven fold increase in C. cautella after 21 generations.

The problem of development of insect resistance to Cry proteins may be managed by

(i) combining or
(ii) alternating two or more kinds of these proteins, and by
(iii) reducing the selection pressure on insects by limiting cry gene expression to only the economically important plant parts.