Current Perspective of Plant Protection Strategies using Inhibitory Proteins against Insects

Plant inhibitory proteins have recently drawn attention owing to their pivotal role in defense mechanisms. They also play crucial role in plant protection against environment hazards, during seed germination and growth. The excessive use of chemical pesticides in agriculture has a deleterious effect on human health, therefore, there is need to develop safer strategies including inhibitory proteins for crop protection. Present review focuses on plant inhibitory proteins (PIs) for use against crop insect-pests. Protease inhibitors, α-amylase inhibitors, lectins, arcelins and RIP (ribosome inactivating proteins) have been discussed for their use against pests. Genetic engineering of crops could contribute in production of inherently resistant/tolerant crops with the introduction of inhibitory genes into elite crop varieties. Transgenic plants encoding inhibitory proteins have also been discussed.