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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Maricopa, Arizona » U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center » Pest Management and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #182456
Title: LEPIDOPTEROUS LARVAL MORTALITIES AND CRY1AC TOXIC PROTEIN IN BOLLGARD (R) NONBOLLGARD(R) AND ROUNDUP READY(R) COTTONS

Author
item Jech, Lynn
item Henneberry, Thomas

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2005
Publication Date: 6/1/2005
Citation: Jech, L.J., Henneberry, T.J. 2005. Lepidopterous larval mortalities and cry1ac toxic protein in bollgard (r) nonbollgard(r) and roundup ready(r) cottons. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference 1304-1307.

Interpretive Summary: Cottons containing genes that mediate production of insect toxic crystalline protein have had a major positive impact on pink bollworm (PBW) and other lepidopterous insects integrated pest management. Over 70% of Arizona’s cotton acreage is now planted with Bt cottons. We evaluated several Bt and two non-Bt cottons for effects on PBW, cabbage looper (CL), beet armyworm (BAW) and tobacco budworm (TBW) mortalities. PBW and TBW were highly susceptible to all Bt cottons tested during 72 h feeding periods. BAW was the most tolerant to effects of the toxic proteins, although feeding periods were of minimal time and high mortality would probably occur with longer exposure periods. High mortality of CL occurred following feeding on the BGII® cotton compared with other Bt cottons tested.

Technical Abstract: Cottons containing genes that mediate production of insect toxic crystalline protein have had a major positive impact on pink bollworm (PBW), Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), and other lepidopterous insects integrated pest management. Over 70% of Arizona’s cotton acreage is now planted with Bt cottons. We evaluated several Bt and two non-Bt cottons for effects on PBW, cabbage looper (CL), Trichoplusia ni (Hübner), beet armyworm (BAW), Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) and tobacco budworm (TBW), Heliothis virescens (Fabricius) mortalities. PBW and TBW were highly susceptible to all Bt cottons tested during 72 h feeding periods. BAW was the most tolerant to effects of the toxic proteins, although feeding periods were of minimal time and high mortality would probably occur with longer exposure periods. High mortality of CL occurred following feeding on the BGII® cotton compared with other Bt cottons tested.