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Title: Approaches for improving present laboratory and field methodology for evaluation efficacy of transgenic technologies

Author
item Greenberg, Shoil
item Adamczyk, John
item Alejandro, Jaime
item HOLLOWAY, JONATHAN - Bayer Corporation

Submitted to: Southwestern Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/20/2011
Publication Date: 7/31/2011
Citation: Greenberg, S.M., Adamczyk Jr, J.J., Alejandro, J.J., Holloway, J. 2011. Approaches for improving present laboratory and field methodology for evaluation efficacy of transgenic technologies. Southwestern Entomologist. 36(3):261-270.

Interpretive Summary: In the U.S., transgenic cotton is an important tool in minimizing the risk of outbreaks of lepidoptera and augments the activity of beneficial insects in boll weevil eradicated and non-eradicated zones. Assessing the efficacy of Bt cotton under new environmental and management regimes is of prime importance to the growers. Our data is useful for companies producing Bt cotton. Cotton growers, and cooperative extension, especially in the Lower Rio Grande Valley under the Boll Weevil Eradication Program, provide management options that have positive environmental, social, and economic outcomes. Laboratory and field performance of cotton containing endotoxins should be standardized. Only this can provide accurate and stabilized data for insect control with different transgenic technology. The criteria needed for developing standardizations of laboratory and field methods can increase and stabilize the evaluation efficacy of transgenic technologies.

Technical Abstract: Assessing the efficacy of transgenic plants under new environmental and management regimes is of prime importance to the companies which produce new or improved existing transgenic products, breeders which create different varieties stacked with Bt endotoxins, and growers who use them for production. Laboratory and field performance of cotton containing endotoxins should be standardized. Only this can provide accurate and stabilize data for insect control with different transgenic technology. We will also discuss approaches and criteria for mass rearing standardized laboratory colonies of beet armyworm (BAW), Spodoptera exigua (Hübner); fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith); and bollworm (BW), Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) for laboratory and field evaluation methods for efficacy of Bt cottons.