Abstract
Genetically engineered crops that produce insecticidal toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are grown widely for pest control. However, insect adaptation can reduce the toxins' efficacy. The predominant strategy for delaying pest resistance to Bt crops requires refuges of non-Bt host plants to provide susceptible insects to mate with resistant insects. Variable farmer compliance is one of the limitations of this approach. Here we report the benefits of an alternative strategy where sterile insects are released to mate with resistant insects and refuges are scarce or absent. Computer simulations show that this approach works in principle against pests with recessive or dominant inheritance of resistance. During a largescale, four-year field deployment of this strategy in Arizona, resistance of pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) to Bt cotton did not increase. A multitactic eradication program that included the release of sterile moths reduced pink bollworm abundance by >99%, while eliminating insecticide sprays against this key invasive pest. (author)
Tabashnik, B E;
[1]
Sisterson, M S;
[2]
Ellsworth, P C
[3]
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (United States)
- USDA-ARS, San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center, Parlier, CA (United States)
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Maricopa Agricultural Center, Maricopa, AZ (United States)
Citation Formats
Tabashnik, B E, Sisterson, M S, and Ellsworth, P C.
Suppressing Resistance to Bt Cotton with Sterile Insect Releases.
IAEA: N. p.,
2011.
Web.
doi:10.1038/NBT.1704.
Tabashnik, B E, Sisterson, M S, & Ellsworth, P C.
Suppressing Resistance to Bt Cotton with Sterile Insect Releases.
IAEA.
https://doi.org/10.1038/NBT.1704
Tabashnik, B E, Sisterson, M S, and Ellsworth, P C.
2011.
"Suppressing Resistance to Bt Cotton with Sterile Insect Releases."
IAEA.
https://doi.org/10.1038/NBT.1704.
@misc{etde_21467663,
title = {Suppressing Resistance to Bt Cotton with Sterile Insect Releases}
author = {Tabashnik, B E, Sisterson, M S, and Ellsworth, P C}
abstractNote = {Genetically engineered crops that produce insecticidal toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are grown widely for pest control. However, insect adaptation can reduce the toxins' efficacy. The predominant strategy for delaying pest resistance to Bt crops requires refuges of non-Bt host plants to provide susceptible insects to mate with resistant insects. Variable farmer compliance is one of the limitations of this approach. Here we report the benefits of an alternative strategy where sterile insects are released to mate with resistant insects and refuges are scarce or absent. Computer simulations show that this approach works in principle against pests with recessive or dominant inheritance of resistance. During a largescale, four-year field deployment of this strategy in Arizona, resistance of pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) to Bt cotton did not increase. A multitactic eradication program that included the release of sterile moths reduced pink bollworm abundance by >99%, while eliminating insecticide sprays against this key invasive pest. (author)}
doi = {10.1038/NBT.1704}
place = {IAEA}
year = {2011}
month = {Jan}
}
title = {Suppressing Resistance to Bt Cotton with Sterile Insect Releases}
author = {Tabashnik, B E, Sisterson, M S, and Ellsworth, P C}
abstractNote = {Genetically engineered crops that produce insecticidal toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are grown widely for pest control. However, insect adaptation can reduce the toxins' efficacy. The predominant strategy for delaying pest resistance to Bt crops requires refuges of non-Bt host plants to provide susceptible insects to mate with resistant insects. Variable farmer compliance is one of the limitations of this approach. Here we report the benefits of an alternative strategy where sterile insects are released to mate with resistant insects and refuges are scarce or absent. Computer simulations show that this approach works in principle against pests with recessive or dominant inheritance of resistance. During a largescale, four-year field deployment of this strategy in Arizona, resistance of pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) to Bt cotton did not increase. A multitactic eradication program that included the release of sterile moths reduced pink bollworm abundance by >99%, while eliminating insecticide sprays against this key invasive pest. (author)}
doi = {10.1038/NBT.1704}
place = {IAEA}
year = {2011}
month = {Jan}
}