have been in plant protection for over 60 years
With the development of plant genetic engineering, Bt insecticidal genes have been introduced into Gm crops (including rice) to develop insect resistant crops.
Many studies and evaluations of Bt rice have been conducted in both laboratory and field.
All the results consistently confirmed that Bt rice is highly effective against rice borers and leaf folders, which are the two major classes of rice lepidopteran pests that cause severe yield loss in all rice-growing countries.
Bt rice was temporarily commercialized in Iran in 2005
Although a number of Bt genes have been identified, only a small fraction of them have been applied in Bt rice.
The mostly used Bt genes in rice are Cryl A genes, such as Cryl Ab, Cryl Ac, or a fusion gene Cryl Ab/c.
Some studies of Bt rice using other Bt genes such as Cryl C, Cry2A, and Cry9C have also been characterized.