The new defense is called chitinase, an enzyme which breaks down the biological substance chitin. Chitin is a carbohydrate found in the digestive lining and hard exoskeleton of insects and the cell walls of fungi. Subbaratnam Muthukrishnan, professor of biochemistry at K-State, and his research team introduced chitinase genes into grain plants. These fortified plants turn the tables on would-be parasites by giving them an essentially toxic substance to chew on. Muthukrishnan explains that the chitinase breaks down the gut lining and exoskeleton in insects and causes the cell wall in fungi to lose their integrity.
Insects become susceptible to microorganisms once their exoskeleton and gut lining are injured.
The plants have inducible defenses that may not be triggered in time. The first step in creating these resistant plants is to isolate the genes which produce chitinase. Many generations are reproduced. Plants are tested in the greenhouse and later in a larger field trial. If proven successful, they are marketed to the public.