"Ferns: Nature's Crop-Saving Insecticide"

A study has discovered novel insecticidal proteins in ferns, which could potentially be used for plant-made protein pest control in crop plants. These proteins, designated as IPD113, were found in ferns like Pteris species and were effective against major lepidopteran pests of maize and soybeans. The proteins showed a surprising similarity to certain insecticidal proteins derived from bacteria, even though they are derived from plants. This discovery offers an alternative mode of action and a potential solution to pest resistance to existing insecticidal methods.