Insect Science (2006) 13, 279-286

Xiao-Mu Ma, Xiao-Xia Liu, Qing-Wen Zhang, Ji-Jun Li and Ai-Min Ren (2006)
Impact of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis cotton on a non-target pest Tetranychus spp. in northern China
Insect Science 13 (4), 279-286
Abstract: Field studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of two transgenic cotton varieties (SGK321 carrying Cry1A+CpTI and DP99B carrying Cry1Ac) and the conventional variety (shiyuan321-parental line of SGK321) on spider mites, Tetranychus spp. from 2002 to 2004. In 2002, this experiment included three treatments: Bt cotton field (SGK321) treated with acaricides against spider mites, untreated non-Bt cotton field (Shiyuan321), and untreated Bt cotton field (SGK321). In 2003-2004, there are four types of treatments after a new transgenic Bt cotton variety, DP99B (non-chemical control), was added into the experiments. The results showed that there were no significant difference in densities of spider mites among Bt without acaricides and non-Bt without acaricides cotton fields, nor was there a significant difference in damage of spider mites to cotton among these treatments (P > 0.1). However, there are significant differences (P < 0.05) in densities of spider mites and damage caused by spider mites between cotton fields with and without acaricides. Acaricide significantly reduced the densities of spider mites in Bt cotton (P < 0.05). These results suggest that Bt cotton has no effect on spider mites populations. However, spider mites have the potential for severe damage in Bt cotton fields. Acaricides are essential tools in controlling cotton spider mites in northern China.
(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): Xiao-Xia Liu

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
non-target effects/fate in environm.

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Tetranychus (genus)	Cotton (Gossypium)	China (NE)
Bacillus thuringiensis genes in crops (entomopathogen)			China (NE)
Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1A-toxin (entomopathogen)			China (NE)