METHODS OF INTRODUCING dsRNA TO PLANT SEEDS FOR MODULATING GENE EXPRESSION

(canceled)

A method for generating a plant having insect resistance comprising:

• a) introducing a nucleic acid molecule into an ungerminated seed, said nucleic acid molecule comprising at least one polynucleotide strand comprising at least one segment having a first nucleic acid sequence of 18 or more contiguous nucleotides of an insect pest gene in either anti-sense or sense orientation and
• b) germinating said seed to generate a plant exhibiting insect resistance after emerging from the seed.

A method of treating a seed to improve insect resistance of a plant grown from the seed comprising:

• introducing an exogenous dsRNA molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence that is essentially identical or essentially complementary to at least 18 contiguous nucleotides of an insect pest gene or to the sequence of an RNA transcribed from said insect pest gene into said seed,
• wherein the plant grown from said seed exhibits improved insect resistance relative to a control plant which develops from a seed not comprising said exogenous dsRNA molecule.

-63. (canceled)