Biotech Updates

Effects of Bollgard and Bollgard II Cotton on Target and Non-target Insects

June 18, 2010

Bollgard and Bolgard II, genetically-modified cotton cultivars, were investigated for their effectiveness in controlling infestation by American bollworms, as well as their effects on non-target insects. This was observed by R.S. Mann of the University of Florida and colleagues during the 2004-2005 cropping seasons.

The cultivars were subjected to bollworm insecticide protected and non-insecticide field conditions. In both conditions, the Bollgard cultivars showed no sign of infestation by the American bollworm even until the season of harvest. On the other hand, the cultivars were infested by non-target spotted bollworm and spiny bollworm larvae during the mature stage of growth. The densities of other non-target organisms such as sucking insects and foliage feeders were the same in the Bollgard cultivars and conventional cotton cultivars.

Read the abstract of this study at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2010.04.006.