Agronomy Journal (2007) 99, 842-846

H.A. Cárcamo and R.E. Blackshaw (2007)
Insect pest incidence and injury to herbicide-tolerant canola in western Canada
Agronomy Journal 99 (3), 842-846
Abstract: Genetically modified herbicide-tolerant (HT) canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars dominate the acreage planted to this oilseed crop in western Canada. We conducted a 3-yr (2000-2002) field study near Lethbridge, AB, Canada to compare the incidence and damage of three key insect pests in Roundup Ready, Liberty Link (both HT), and Q2 (a conventional cultivar). Flea beetle (Phyllotreta cruciferae and P. striolata [Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae]) damage in 2000 ranged from 31 to 32% of foliage consumption at the cotyledon stage, which surpassed economic thresholds but was not related to cultivar. Cabbage seedpod weevil (Ceutorhynchus obstrictus Marsham [Coleoptera, Curculionidae]) damage to canola pods ranged from 58 to 70 holes per 100 pods in 2001, and lygus plant bugs (Lygus spp. [Heteroptera, Miridae]) at the early pod stage reached densities of >37 individuals per 10 sweeps in 2000 and 2002. For both insect pests, their damage or abundance was similar among the conventional and HT cultivars. We conclude that, in the short term, the insect pests common in southern Alberta do not exhibit a preference to invade and damage the transgenic herbicide canola cultivars commonly planted in the prairies.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Héctor A. Carcamo, Robert E. Blackshaw

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ceutorhynchus obstrictus	Rape/canola (Brassica napus)	Canada (west)
	Phyllotreta cruciferae	Rape/canola (Brassica napus)	Canada (west)
	Lygus (genus)		Canada (west)
	Phyllotreta striolata	Rape/canola (Brassica napus)	Canada (west)