Lox3 gene modulation and armyworm tolerance

A method for conferring or increasing resistance or tolerance to an insect and comprising the steps of:

• (i) providing at least one Zea mays plant cell;
• (ii) introducing into the at least one Zea mays plant cell at least one gene silencing construct, at least one genome editing system or a genome modification, which leads to a targeted knock-down of a Lox3 gene endogenous to the Zea mays plant;
• (iii) obtaining at least one modified Zea mays plant cell having reduced expression of the Lox3 gene;
• (iv) obtaining at least one Zea mays plant cell, tissue, organ, plant, or seed having reduced expression of the Lox3 gene after an additional step of regenerating the Zea mays plant tissue, organ, plant, or seed from the at least one modified Zea mays plant cell;
• and
• (v) testing the at least one Zea mays plant cell, tissue, organ, plant, or seed having reduced expression of the Lox3 gene for increased resistance or tolerance to the insect,
• wherein the Lox3 gene is represented by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 87, or 88 or a nucleic acid sequence having a sequence identity of at least 95% to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 87, or 88, and
• wherein the Lox3 gene encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 8, 11, 14, 17 or 89 or an amino acid sequence having a sequence identity of at least 95% to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 8, 11, 14, 17 or 89.