Pest Management Science (2016) 72, 1359-1365

Zhen Li, Xiu-Min Guan, J.P. Michaud, Qing-Wen Zhang and Xiao-Xia Liu (2016)
Quercetin interacts with Cry1Ac protein to affect larval growth and survival of Helicoverpa armigera
Pest Management Science 72 (7), 1359-1365
Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Bt cotton has been widely planted in China for over a decade to control H. armigera, but field surveys indicate increasing resistance in the pest. It has been speculated that accumulating plant secondary compounds in mature cotton may interact with Bt toxins and affect the toxicity of Bt to H. armigera.
RESULTS
Both quercetin, one of the main flavonoids in cotton, and the Bt toxin Cry1Ac protein had significant negative effects on the growth, development and survival of H. armigera when added singly to artificial diet, but their effects were inhibited when added in combination. Quercetin was antagonistic to Cry1Ac toxicity at all tested concentrations.
CONCLUSION
The accumulation of quercetin might be one factor contributing to the reduced toxicity of mature Bt cotton plants to H. armigera, and could partially explain the reduced efficacy of Cry1Ac in controlling this pest in the field.
(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, J.P. Michaud

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Helicoverpa armigera	Cotton (Gossypium)
Bacillus thuringiensis genes in crops (entomopathogen)	Helicoverpa armigera	Cotton (Gossypium)
Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1A-toxin (entomopathogen)	Helicoverpa armigera	Cotton (Gossypium)