BOLLGARD II: IMPROVEMENTS IN EFFICACY AND SPECTRUMAGAINST LEPIDOPTERAN PESTS OF COTTON

摘要

A technological milestone in genetic engineering resulted in the production and deployment of Bollgard~R cotton varieties expressingthe Cry1Ac protein, for the control of certain lepidopterous pests of cotton. Commercially available in several varietiessince 1996, this product has provided an effective and specific alternative to the use of synthetic insecticides for the controlof tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens; cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa zea; and pink bollworm, Pectinophoragossypiella. In an attempt to increase efficacy, expand spectrum of activity, and mitigate or postpone the development of resistance,a stacked product, Bollgard IITM, has been developed, expressing both Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2 proteins. The combinedactivity of the two proteins in Bollgard IITM provides increased efficacy against the budworm/bollworm complex, enhancedspectrum of activity against beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua;; and fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugi[perda (Table 1). TheEnvironmental Protection Agency recently granted registration for this product, and Bollgard IITM will be launched in the2003 cotton-growing season.