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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 #184110

Title: MORTALITIES OF TOBACCO BUDWORM, BEET ARMYWORM AND CABBAGE LOOPER LARVAE FEEDING ON TRANSGENIC AND NON-TRANSGENIC COTTON POLLENS, 2004

Author
item Henneberry, Thomas
item Jech, Lynn

Submitted to: Arthropod Management Tests
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2005
Publication Date: 11/7/2005
Citation: Henneberry, T.J., Jech, L.J. 2005. Mortalities of tobacco budworm, beet armyworm and cabbage looper larvae feeding on transgenic and non-transgenic cotton. Arthropod Management Tests Vol 30, L9:1-2.

Interpretive Summary: TBW feed on cotton terminals, squares, blooms and bolls. BAW has similar feeding habits, but damage to terminals and other fruiting forms generally occurs later in the season. CL is primarily a foliage feeder and rarely is an economic pest of cotton in Arizona, but also occurs frequently late in the season. Most of the cotton acreage in Arizona since 1997 has been Bt cotton with a single gene (BG®) mediating the production of Cry1Ac protein. Additional genetically-engineered cottons are now available with a second gene (BGII®) mediating production of a second crystalline insect toxic protein and a gene controlling resistance to Roundup Ready® (RR) herbicide. Various combinations of “stacked” gene cottons have greatly increased options for growers. We evaluated pollens from Delta and Pineland (DPL) Company (Scott, MS), cotton flowers of DPL 5415, DPL 5415 RR, NuCOTN33B®, and DPL 449 BG® RR® for effects on TBW, BAW and CL larval mortalities. Larval mortalities of these species feeding on other plant parts (leaves) of genetically-engineered cottons has been published.

Technical Abstract: TBW feed on cotton terminals, squares, blooms and bolls. BAW has similar feeding habits, but damage to terminals and other fruiting forms generally occurs later in the season. CL is primarily a foliage feeder and rarely is an economic pest of cotton in Arizona, but also occurs frequently late in the season. Most of the cotton acreage in Arizona since 1997 has been Bt cotton with a single gene (BG®) mediating the production of Cry1Ac protein. Additional genetically-engineered cottons are now available with a second gene (BGII®) mediating production of a second crystalline insect toxic protein and a gene controlling resistance to Roundup Ready® (RR) herbicide. Various combinations of “stacked” gene cottons have greatly increased options for growers. We evaluated pollens from Delta and Pineland (DPL) Company (Scott, MS), cotton flowers of DPL 5415, DPL 5415 RR, NuCOTN33B®, and DPL 449 BG® RR® for effects on TBW, BAW and CL larval mortalities. Larval mortalities of these species feeding on other plant parts (leaves) of genetically-engineered cottons has been published.