Plants modified to express insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (referred to as Bt-protected plants) provide a safe and highly effective method of insect control. Bt-protected corn, cotton, and potato were introduced into the United States in 1995/1996 and grown on a total of approximately 10 million acres in 1997, 20 million acres in 1998, and 29 million acres globally in 1999. Th...

To delay evolution of pest resistance to transgenic crops producing insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), the "pyramid" strategy uses plants that produce two or more toxins that kill the same pest. We conducted laboratory diet experiments with the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, to evaluate cross-resistance and interactions between two toxins in pyramided Bt cotton (Cry...

Evolution of resistance by insect pests threatens the long-term benefits of transgenic crops that produce insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Previous work has detected increases in the frequency of resistance to Bt toxin Cry1Ac in populations of cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, from northern China where Bt cotton producing Cry1Ac has been grown extensively for more th...

This investigation was aimed to study the management of bollworms using different integrated pest management strategies in cotton. Highest infestation in bolls at harvest was recorded in module-5 and lowest was recorded in module-2. Net returns were highest in module-5, which also recorded maximum cost-benefit ratio. Low net returns and cost-benefit ratio were recorded in module-3. Eventhough, ...

Widely grown transgenic crops producing insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) can benefit agriculture, but adaptation by pests threatens their continued success. Refuges of host plants that do not make Bt toxins can promote survival of susceptible insects and delay evolution of resistance, particularly if resistance is inherited as a recessive trait. However, data have been lac...

Abstract. In light of recent pink bollworm (PBW) pest infestations in several cotton-producing states India, farmers genetically engineered Bt cotton (Bt for Bacillus thuringiensis) have faced fierce criticism their noncompliance with the national insect resistance management (IRM) strategy. We argue that this is short-sighted and one-dimensional. Building upon literature on policy assemblages ...