Abstract
Genetically modified cotton (GMC) was compared with two conventional cultivars, using data from trials and commercial farms. Objectives were to highlight disparate agronomic and technological performance parameters and identify perspectives to Burkina Faso comeback to GMC. Results showed that compared materials are similar for most agronomic characteristics, except fiber percent. As this important parameter is concerned, GMC outperformed conventional cultivars in trials (+1.2 to +2.2%) and some commercial fields by +0.3, +0.5, +0.6 and +1% at Banfora, Koudougou, Houndé and Dédougou, respectively. For fiber quality, they did not show significant difference in maturity, micronaire, uniformity index, elongation, short fiber index, reflectance and yellowness. For two important parameters in cotton fiber marketing, Upper Half Mean Length and Strength, GMC was highly handicapped by -1.43 to -2.09 mm and -19.70 to -40.67 kN m Kg-1 compared to conventional cultivars, in commercial production. In trials, differences averaged -1.75 mm and -32.34 kN m Kg-1. Differences between compared materials are genetic, due to failure in recovering important characteristics after the transgenic conversion. Local GMC cultivars could be an asset if more perfectly achieved, on site selected and pre-release evaluated, to take into account local production particularities. Key words: Genetic conversion, Bt cotton, agronomic characteritics, fiber properties, Burkina Faso.
Highlights
Cotton is a strategic agricultural product of critical importance to many African countries, with small-scale producers in small acreages and low intensification (Hussein et al, 2005)
When we considered SOFITEX zone as a whole, the margin remains positive for genetically modified cotton (GMC) of +0.1% (Table 2)
There are no significant differences between the GMC and conventional cultivars for the opening of the first flower (FFD) or first boll (FBOD)
Summary
Cotton is a strategic agricultural product of critical importance to many African countries, with small-scale producers in small acreages and low intensification (Hussein et al, 2005). The application of chemical insecticides has been used to control pest attacks in commercial cotton production. In the 2000s, to adopt genetically modified cotton (GMC) represents a solid alternative to chemical insecticides that had become less effective; that is still actual today (Vitale et al, 2008; James, 2017). At the request of the cotton interprofession of Burkina Faso (AICB), experiments were conducted from 2003 to 2007 by the Institute of Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA) to investigate the impacts of prospective adoption of GMC technology. The indirect transformation route, by crossing with the already transformed cultivar Coker 312, was used to introgress two Bt transgenes (Cry1AcMON531 and Cry2Ab-MON15985 BGIITM) into two cultivars from Burkina Faso and one introduction cultivar from Togo (Stam 59 A). The introgression of FK290 failed, and those which succeeded (FK37 and Stam 59 A) were two times backcrossed (BC2), followed by selection process conducted by Monsanto in the USA
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