Harnessing CRISPR/Cas-mediated genetic innovations in lepidopteran insects

CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing of eukaryotic organisms gained immense popularity after the monumental publications made in 2012 and 2013 in heterologous editing of Escherichia coli and human kidney cells, respectively. In this regard, CRISPR/Cas has several important applications in agriculture, including gene-function validation and pest management. Recently researchers have contemplated employing this approach in achieving a chemical-free insect pest management strategy called 'genetic pest management'. In this approach both sex ratio and male sterility are achieved in one go by editing precisely the sex-determination genes and spermatogenesis-related genes. In vitro target gene validation is the key before taking up the final field application which is accomplished by employing ribonucleoprotein [RNP] complex combining guide RNA [gRNA] targeting specific regions and Cas protein which cuts the DNA at specific site/s followed by the error-prone repair by non-homologous end joining [NHEJ] resulting loss-of-function of the target gene. CRISPR/Cas-based genetic pest management possesses a lot of potential in Lepidoptera an important species order in Insecta and several globally significant pests. Therefore, the present review focuses on pertinent, up-to-date information on genome editing of the functional and phenotypic genes in Lepidoptera.