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Title: Efficacy of various Bt Cotton against the Black Cutworm.

Author
item Adamczyk, John
item Greenberg, Shoil

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/2/2007
Publication Date: 7/5/2007
Citation: Adamczyk Jr, J.J., Greenberg, S.M. 2007. Efficacy of various Bt Cotton against the Black Cutworm. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference, January 9-12, 2007, New Orleans, Louisiana. p. 1638-1642.

Interpretive Summary: Research was conducted to determine the development of a common caterpillar pest, the black cutworm, on three different genetically modified cotton cultivars that contained different kinds of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a common soil bacterium. In most studies, the commercial Bt cotton, WideStrike™, caused the highest mortality to all development stages of the caterpillar, compared to regular cotton. In addition, WideStrike™ provided the most protection from this pest compared to the Bt cotton, Bollgard®, or the Bt cotton, Bollgard II®.

Technical Abstract: Laboratory bioassays, field cages, and large experimental plots were utilized to determine the relative efficacy of Bollgard®, Bollgard II®, and WideStrike™ against the black cutworm. In most studies, WideStrike™ caused the highest mortality to all instars examined compared to non-Bt, Bollgard®, or Bollgard II® cottons. It appears that the Cry1F protein is more efficacious against the black cutworm compared to other commercially available Cry genes.