Global perspectives on field-evolved resistance to transgenic Bt crops: A special collection

Authors: TABASHNIK, BRUCE - University Of Arizona; CARRIERE, YVES - University Of Arizona; WU, YIDONG - Nanjing Agricultural University; Fabrick, Jeffrey

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/3/2023
Publication Date: 4/5/2023
Citation: Tabashnik, B.E., Carriere, Y., Wu, Y., Fabrick, J.A. 2023. Global perspectives on field-evolved resistance to transgenic Bt crops: A special collection. Journal of Economic Entomology. 116(2):269-274. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toad054.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toad054

Interpretive Summary: Genetically engineered crops producing insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have revolutionized management of some major pests, but their efficacy has been reduced when pests evolve resistance. Here, an ARS scientist at Maricopa, AZ and collaborators introduce a special collection consisting of six new published papers on global perspectives on field-evolved resistance to Bt crops. Namely, a synthetic review provides a comprehensive global summary of the status of the resistance or susceptibility to Bt crops; another paper evaluates the inheritance and fitness costs of resistance of the Western corn rootworm to the Bt toxin complex Gpp34/Tpp35Ab (formerly called Cry34/35Ab) produced in Bt corn; two papers describe and demonstrate advances in techniques for monitoring field-evolved resistance to two Helicoverpa pests in both China and the U.S.; and two papers provide multi-year monitoring data for corn borer resistance to Bt corn in Spain and Canada. The new methods, results, and conclusions reported here provide insights that may stimulate additional research and help to enhance the sustainability of current and future transgenic insecticidal crops.

Technical Abstract: Crops genetically engineered to produce insect-killing proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have revolutionized management of some major pests, but their efficacy has been reduced when pests evolve resistance. Practical resistance, which is field-evolved resistance that reduces the efficacy of Bt crops and has practical implications for pest management, has been reported in 26 cases in seven countries involving 11 pest species. This special collection on global perspectives on field-evolved resistance to Bt crops includes six papers published here for the first time. A synthetic review provides a comprehensive global summary of the status of the resistance or susceptibility to Bt crops in 24 pest species in 12 countries. Another paper evaluates the inheritance and fitness costs of resistance of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera to Gpp34/Tpp35Ab (formerly called Cry34/35Ab). Two papers describe and demonstrate advances in techniques for monitoring field-evolved resistance. One uses a modified F2 screen for resistance to Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab in Helicoverpa zea in the United States. The other uses genomics to analyze nonrecessive resistance to Cry1Ac in Helicoverpa armigera in China. Two papers provide multi-year monitoring data for resistance to Bt corn in Spain and Canada. The monitoring data from Spain evaluate responses to Cry1Ab of the corn borers Sesamia nonagrioides and Ostrinia nubilalis, whereas the data from Canada track responses of O. nubilalis to Cry1Ab, Cry1Fa, Cry1A.105, and Cry2Ab. We hope the new methods, results, and conclusions reported here will spur additional research and help to enhance the sustainability of current and future transgenic insecticidal crops.