Abstract
The efficacy and non-target arthropod effects of transgenic DAS-21023-5 × DAS-24236-5 × SYN-IR102-7 Bt cotton, expressing proteins Cry1Ac, Cry1F and Vip3Aa19, was examined through field trials in Brazil. Fifteen field efficacy experiments were conducted from 2014 through the 2020 growing season across six different states in Brazil to evaluate performance against key lepidopteran pests through artificial infestations of Chrysodeixis includens (Walker), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith,1797), Spodoptera cosmioides (Walker, 1858) and Chloridea virescens (F., 1781), and natural infestations of Alabama argillacea (Hübner) and S. frugiperda. The impact of this Bt cotton technology on the non-target arthropod community in Brazilian cotton production systems was also assessed in a multi-site experiment. DAS-21023-5 × DAS-24236-5 × SYN-IR102-7 cotton significantly reduced the feeding damage caused by S. frugiperda, S. cosmioides, C. includens, C. virescens and A. argillacea, causing high levels of mortality (greater than 99%) to all target lepidopteran pests evaluated during vegetative and/or reproductive stages of crop development. Non-target arthropod community-level analyses confirmed no unintended effects on the arthropod groups monitored. These results demonstrate the value of transgenic Bt cotton containing event DAS-21023-5 × DAS-24236-5 × SYN-IR102-7 for consideration as part of an integrated approach for managing key lepidopteran pests in Brazilian cotton production systems.
Highlights
The production of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plays an important role in the economy of many countries in tropical and subtropical regions of the world [1]
The objectives of this study were to evaluate the field efficacy of the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton technology expressing events DAS-21023-5 × DAS-24236-5 × SYN-IR102-7 on a complex of key lepidopteran pests in Brazil and to assess its impact on the non-target arthropod community associated with Brazilian cotton production systems
At the GS6:65 cotton growth stages, the percentage of squares attacked by C. virescens was 29.7% in non-Bt cotton and 1.9% in Bt cotton, while at GS6:65+ the percentage of squares attacked was 33.5 and 1.4% in the non-Bt and Bt cotton treatments, respectively (Fig 1E and 1F)
Summary
The production of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plays an important role in the economy of many countries in tropical and subtropical regions of the world [1]. Arthropod pests have historically acted as major constraint on profitable cotton production and a limiting factor for the geographic expansion of the crop [1]. Efficacy of Bt cotton and impact on the NTA. Authors participated in the decision to publish, and the preparation of the manuscript. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials
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