BT Full Form
What is the full form of BT?
The full form of Bt is “Bacillus thuringiensis”. Bt crops are produced from the same Bt toxin that bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis have. The toxin present in bacteria Bt is cloned and then transported into the plants which help plants to protect themselves from insects. Bt crops are also known as transgenic crops or Genetically Modified(GM) crops. Ernst Berliner discovered it.
Bt crops produce a toxin similar to the Bt bacterium to protect crops from pests. This toxin is made up of a specific protein called “cry protein”. This cry protein gets dissolved in the insect's gut and becomes active. The toxin then perforates the gut lining by attacking the gut cells. After that insect stops eating, and the gut wall breaks down. Then the normal gut bacteria and spores multiply quickly and cause insect death. It does not affect the digestive system of humans; that’s why Bt crops are becoming popular and safe for human consumption.
Types of BT crops
Bt Cotton
Bt Brinjal
Bt Corn
Bt Potato
Bt Tobacco
Bt Rice
Bt Tomato, etc.
Advantages of BT crops:
Helped in increasing the yield of crops.
Helped in decreasing the use of insecticides and pesticides.
Helped in the production of the disease-free crop.
Disadvantages of BT crops:
Bt Crops are costlier than normal crops.
The pests or insects might become immune to the toxins.