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Title: TRANSGENIC COMPARISONS OF PINK BOLLWORM EFFICACY AND RESPONSE TO HEAT STRESS.

Author
item ELLSWORTH, PETER - MAC: UNIV. OF ARIZONA
item MOSER, HAL - MAC: UNIV. OF ARIZONA
item HENNEBERRY, TOM - 5344-05-01
item GHISLAINE, MAJEAU - MAC: UNIV. OF ARIZONA
item SUBRAMANI, JAY - MAC: UNIV. OF ARIZONA

Submitted to: University of Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2002
Publication Date: 7/1/2002
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fifteen lines from 3 different cotton families were compared. Each family had a conventional, non-transgenic standard, as well as 4 other transgenic lines. Each Bt line was evaluated for this trait's efficacy in controlling pink bollworm under high pressure, artificial infestations. Various agronomic properties were measured including yield, micronaire, ginning properties, and fiber quality. Heat tolerance was also evaluated using a flower rating system. The Cry1Ac gene performed flawlessly in preventing PBW larval development when expressed alone or in combination with Cry2Ab. In all cases where large larvae were found in Bollgard or Bollgard II plots, the plants bearing the infested bolls were not expressing the Cry1Ac toxin. Those few times when larvae were found, it was due to contaminants in the seed supply. The novel Cry2Ab only expressing plants were also very effective in controlling PBW large larval development; however; control was less than the Cry1Ac-expressing lines. The transgenic lines performed similarly within families and usually not different from the conventional standards. In some cases, statistically different results were found; however; in all but a few cases, performance parameters were superior in the transgenic lines when compared to the conventional standard. There are instances where characteristics of the transgenic line were inferior to the conventional standard, especially in some fiber properties. Heat tolerance was again similar throughout 2 of the cotton families. For the DP5415 family, 3 of the 4 transgenic lines outperformed the conventional standard. More testing under more environmental conditions is warranted before firm conclusions are drawn.