Pest Management Science (2015) 71, 1082-1090
Sushil K. Jalali, Lalitha Yadavalli, Rakshit Ojha, Pradyumn Kumar, Suby B. Sulaikhabeevi, Reema Sharma, Rupa Nair, Ravi C. Kadanur, Subray P. Kamath and Mohan S. Komarlingam (2015)
Baseline sensitivity of maize borers in India to the Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal proteins Cry1A.105 and Cry2Ab2
Pest Management Science 71 (8), 1082-1090
Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Among the major pests of maize in India are two stem borers, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) and Sesamia inferens (Walker), and an earworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner). As a pest control strategy, transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize hybrids are undergoing regulatory trials in India. We have determined the sensitivity of the target lepidopterans to the insecticidal Bt proteins expressed in Bt maize, as this determines product efficacy and the resistance management strategy to be adopted. Maize hybrids with event MON89034 express two insecticidal Bt proteins, Cry1A.105 and Cry2Ab2.
RESULTS
Sensitivity profiles of 53 populations of C. partellus, 21 populations of S. inferens and 21 populations of H. armigera, collected between 2008 and 2013 from maize-growing areas in India, to Cry1A.105 and Cry2Ab2 proteins were generated through dose–response assays. Cry1A.105 protein was the most effective to neonates of C. partellus (mean MIC90 range 0.30–1.0 µg mL-1) and H. armigera (mean MIC90 range 0.71–8.22 µg mL-1), whereas Cry2Ab2 (mean MIC90 range 0.65–1.70 µg mL-1) was the most effective to S. inferens.
CONCLUSION
Populations of C. partellus, S. inferens and H. armigera were susceptible to the Bt proteins Cry1A.105 and Cry2Ab2. The Bt sensitivity data will serve as precommercialisation benchmarks for resistance monitoring purposes.
(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): Sushil Kumar Jalali
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
resistance/tolerance/defence of host
