Crop plants under siege: Molecular insights into plant-fall armyworm interactions and genetic tools for management

Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm), an alien and highly destructive lepidopteran pest, presents a critical concern to global agriculture, particularly to staple crops such as sorghum, rice and maize. Its broad spectrum of hosts, rapid adaptability and increasing resistance to conventional insecticides have intensified the need for sustainable, plant-based pest management strategies. This review highlights recent molecular and genetic advances in enhancing crop resistance to S. frugiperda, with an emphasis on their relevance to crop improvement programs. Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) transgenic crops producing Cry and Vip proteins have successfully impaired larval midgut activity while limiting impacts on non-target organisms. RNA interference (RNAi), particularly Host-Induced Gene Silencing (HIGS), offers a promising plant-mediated approach for silencing key insect genes involved in metabolism and development. CRISPR/Cas (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR Associated Protein) genome editing also opens up new possibilities for developing pest-resistant crops and deepening our understanding of pest biology through functional research. Complementary approaches such as Sterile Insect Techniques (SIT) and gene drives show potential as part of integrated management strategies when combined with plant biotechnology. Despite these advances, challenges remain, including delivery efficiency, regulatory concerns, potential off-target effects and resistance evolution. The integration of genetic technologies with ecological pest management, biosafety frameworks and stakeholder engagement will be essential for achieving durable, sustainable fall armyworm control. Although genetic strategies like Bt, RNAi and CRISPR hold great promise for managing fall armyworm, each approach has specific limitations and varying levels of field applicability. This review critically examines these methods to provide a balanced and practical perspective for their use in crop improvement. This review underscores the central role of plant biotechnology in crop improvement to safeguard agricultural productivity against S. frugiperda.