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Can other host species of cotton bollworm be non-Bt refuges to prolong the effectiveness of Bt-cotton?

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Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

The potential ecological risks ofBacillus thurigiensis (Bt) insecticides and Bt-crops have caused increasing concern since their commercial release in the field, among which pests’ resistance to Bt-crops is the major ecological risk. Refuge tactic, which can produce sensitive populations, has proved to be a key and sound resistance management strategy in USA and Australia; however, no tactics have been performed in China where Bt-cotton is mostly planted with other host crops of cotton bollworm. Genetic variation and gene flow among different host populations of the cotton bollwormHelicoverpa armigera were analyzed using PCR fingerprinting method. The results show that maize and castor-oil plant, as well as cotton can take effect as refuges to prevent resistance of cotton bollworm to Bt-cotton, while peanut and sesame are not as suitable for planting with Bt-cotton as refuges in the field as low gene flow was detected among populations on peanut, sesame and Bt cotton.

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Correspondence to Dianmo Li.

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Tan, S., Chen, X., Li, D. et al. Can other host species of cotton bollworm be non-Bt refuges to prolong the effectiveness of Bt-cotton?. Chin.Sci.Bull. 46, 1804–1807 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02900555

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02900555

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