SEMINAR: Plant Biology Research Seminar

New approaches are required to control insect pests which cause $2 billion annual crop losses in Australia alone. Phytophagous insects are incapable of synthesizing cholesterol which is an essential molecule for many important biological functions. They rely on converting host phytosterols to cholesterol via a unique dealylation pathway. There are stringent structural demands if the phytosterol is to be used as substrate for dealkylation, thus some phytosterols are non utilizable by insects. This important pest-host interaction provides a unique opportunity for a new insect pest control strategy. We are developing a novel control system which we call “Sterol Interference”.

We have genetically modified Arabidopsis plants with specific sterol biosynthetic genes which synthesize non-utilizable sterols in sufficient quantities without apparent effects on plant growth. Insects reared on the modified Arabidopsis plants tend to have delayed growth. Transgenic plants are also undergoing further physiological and ecological evaluations. The transformation of these genes into agricultural crops such as cotton, rice and canola is progressing and has the potential to save billions in the cost of insect control.