Transgenes for Pest and Disease Resistance Progress in the introduction of transgenes for pest resistance in apples and strawberries

Using a leaf disc transformation procedure andAgrobacterium- mediated gene transfer, transgenic apple and strawberry plants have been produced that carry a gene encoding a cowpea trypsin inhibitor (CpTl). This gene is known to confer resistance to several lepidopteran and coleopteran insect pests. Scientific and regulatory aspects of this type of work are discussed.