The Role and the Ability of Enzyme Inhibitors and Lectins in Resistance Against Plant-Parasitic Nematodes in Transgenic Crops

The financial losses of agricultural products caused by plant parasitic nematodes are estimated to be US $100 billion worldwide. Because of the increasing restrictions on using nematicide compounds, such as high costs and high level of toxicity, now a need for cultivating and using of resistant varieties is presumed. Although, genetic engineering for producing of nematode resistant crops is less developed compared to other similar fields, but nowadays, modern plant biotechnology has resolved the problem and a large number of plant parasitic nematode resistant crops have been produced with the help of genetic engineering and their resistance has been confirmed. A number of transgenic approaches hold promise, the role and the ability of plant-derived enzyme inhibitor and lectin genes have been evaluated. Early indications are that these are likely to be effective; the best described being the expression of proteinase inhibitors to disrupt nematode digestion. Gene pyramiding could not only increase the plant general resistance at field level, but also to control a broad spectrum damage caused by variety plant parasitic nematodes.