Bt brassicas for DBM control: The CIMBAA public private partnership

摘要

Cabbage and cauliflower are major dietary items in Asia and much of Africa but diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xlostella ( L.), and other lepidopterous pests routinely reduce yields by > 30% even in insecticide protected crops. Most are sprayed at least weekly with insecticides, adding significantly to production costs and creating producer and consumer health hazards. A public / private partnership, The Collaboration on Insect Management for Brassicas in Asia and Africa (www. CIMBAA. org) has beenformed between universities in UK, USA and Australia, AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center, and Nunhems Seed Company, to develop, test and, if appropriate, register pyramided Bt gene transgenic cabbage and cauliflower as a major contribution to brassica IPM.Tightly linking the two genes (for Cry IB and CrylC) in one cartridge is intended to virtually eliminate the risk of accidental separation during breeding.Phase I of the programme-country needs and technical feasibility assessment and demonstration of stakeholder support-is complete. Phase II -development of the germplasm and laboratory and field tests of efficacy, biosafety and sustainability-is well advanced. Risk assessments are being undertaken, and IPM/ resistance management strategies worked out. Laboratory assessment has shown the two proteins to have low LD50s against diamondback moth, Crodicolomis pavonana, Hellula undalis and Pieris spp. CIMBAAis completing initial greenhouse trials with the material in India and is now selecting the elite events for eventual registration in India. If biological performance and environmental assessments are positive, the chosen material should enter Phase IE-registration trials-in India in 2008. Phase IV -registration and commercialisation in the first of a cascade of identified countries in need of the material could come as early as 2012. An unfolding communications strategy is commencing with meetings on technical and public interest issues being held in India. CIMBAA's intention is to have the ownership of the developed plant material and the necessary IP in the hands of a public partner, for dissemination for further breeding and commercialisation under strict stewardship guidelines, to interested seed producers in countries in which the material is registered, without restrictive licence or other fees.