Efficacy of a cry1Ab gene for control of Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in cowpea (Fabales: Fabaceae)

Authors: ADDAE, PRINCE - African Agricultural Technology Foundatin; ISHIYAKU, MOHAMMAD - Institute For Agricultural Research, Samaru; TIGNEGRE, JEAN-BAPTISTE - The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC) - Taiwan; BA, MALICK - International Crops Research Institute For Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) - Nigeria; BATIENO, BENOIT - Institute Of Environmental And Agricultural Research - Burkina Faso (FORMERLY: UPPER VOLTA); ATOKPLE, IBRAHIM - Savanna Agricultural Research; ABUDULAI, MUMUNI - Savanna Agricultural Research; DABIRE, CLEMENTINE - Institute Of Environmental And Agricultural Research - Burkina Faso (FORMERLY: UPPER VOLTA); TRAORE, FOUSSENI - Institute Of Environmental And Agricultural Research - Burkina Faso (FORMERLY: UPPER VOLTA); SABA, MOHAMMAD - Institute For Agricultural Research, Samaru; UMAR, MUHAMMED - Ahmadu Bello University; ADAZEBRA, G - Savanna Agricultural Research; ONYEKACHI, F - African Agricultural Technology Foundatin; NEMETH, MARGARET - Statistical Research, Inc; HUESING, J - Us Agency For International Development (USAID); BEACH, LARRY - Us Agency For International Development (USAID); HIGGINS, THOMAS - Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO); Hellmich Ii, Richard; PITTENDRIGH, B - Michigan State University

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/20/2019
Publication Date: 1/22/2020
Citation: Addae, P.C., Ishiyaku, M.F., Tignegre, J., Ba, M.N., Batieno, B.J., Atokple, I., Abudulai, M., Dabire, C., Traore, F., Saba, M., Umar, M.L., Adazebra, G., Onyekachi, F.N., Nemeth, M.A., Huesing, J., Beach, L.R., Higgins, T., Hellmich Ii, R.L., Pittendrigh, B. 2020. Efficacy of a cry1Ab gene for control of Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in cowpea (Fabales: Fabaceae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 113(2):974-979. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toz367.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toz367

Interpretive Summary: Improving the productivity of cowpea can enhance food availability and security in West Africa. Insect predation, predominately from the legume pod borer (moth pest), flower thrips and a complex of pod-sucking bugs is a major yield-limiting factor in West African cowpea production. Dramatic increases in yield are shown when the legume pod borer is controlled with insecticides. However, availability, costs, and safety considerations limit pesticides as a viable option for boosting cowpea production. Development of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cowpea through genetic engineering to control the legume pod borer is a promising approach to cowpea improvement. Bt cowpea events that contain the cry1Ab gene for resistance against legume pod borer were evaluated in West Africa, in Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Ghana, where cowpea is commonly grown. The transgenic lines provided near complete pod and seed protection resulting in significantly increased seed yield over the non-transgenic control line. An integrated pest management strategy that includes the use of Bt cowpea augmented with minimal insecticide treatment for protection against other insects should enhance cowpea production. This information is useful to all scientist and regulators interested in developing genetically engineered crops for use in Africa.

Technical Abstract: Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp] is an important staple legume in the diet of many households in sub-Saharan Africa, however, its production is negatively impacted by many insect pests including legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata F. that can cause 20-80% yield loss. Several transgenic events that contain the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cry1Ab gene for resistance against M. vitrata were evaluated in West Africa, in Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Ghana, where cowpea is commonly grown. Bt cowpea lines were planted in confined field trials under insect proof netting and artificially infested with up to 500 M. vitrata larvae per plant during the bud formation and flowering periods. The Bt cowpea lines provided near complete pod and seed protection resulting in significantly increased seed yield over the non-transgenic control line. An integrated pest management strategy that includes the use of Bt cowpea augmented with minimal insecticide treatment for protection against other insects should be used to control legume pod borer to enhance cowpea production. This information is useful to all scientist and regulators interested in developing genetically engineered crops for use in Africa.