[en] Crosses between tropical and temperate sorghums are currently receiving increasing attention to stabilize and improve sorghum productivity. Since insect problems of tropics are generally more severe, combining productivity with insect resistance becomes the primary objective. The sources, mechanisms and genetic basis of resistance together with plant breeding implications have been examined for three major pests of sorghum - shootfly, stem borer and midge. In all the cases, non-preference is the predominant mechanism of resistance. The inheritance is quantitative with predominance of additive gene action. Incorporating multiple resistance to several of the pests and diseases of sorghum cultivars is feasible and necessary since sorghum culture in tropics is largely rainfed and less intensive. Induced mutations might be useful in enhancing the diversity of alleles conferring insect resistance. Selection of mutants for attributes governing resistance may be rewarding. Mutation breeding might thus supplement conventional breeding methods. (author)