CRISPR/Cas: An emerging molecular technology for biological control of fall armyworm

Abstract The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda , is a highly invasive pest that poses severe threats to food crop production worldwide. Several methods have been applied to control fall armyworm infestations, including egg parasitoids, chemical insecticides, and transgenic crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins. However, the currently available control methods are either poorly effective or facing challenges such as resistance development and environmental concerns. The rapidly evolving molecular tools of genetic engineering, particularly clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated (Cas), have been increasingly utilized in recent years in attempts to develop novel pest management strategies and genetically resistant crops. CRISPR/Cas‐based genome editing offers a precise and efficient molecular tool that has been used successfully in several functional genomic studies of the fall armyworm over the last few years. In this review, we summarize recent progress in using CRISPR/Cas for precise genome editing of the fall armyworm, enabling the targeted modification of key genes essential for the survival and propagation of the pest. The potential of the CRISPR/Cas system to develop insect‐resistant crops and pest management approaches that can be integrated into the current management strategies of the pest is discussed.