Abstract

Effects of pesticide applications, based on an IPM program on cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera Hübner, cotton mirids and cotton leafhoppers, were evaluated in transgenic Bt-cotton and non-transgenic cotton agroecosystems between 1999 and 2001 in China. Differences in pest populations between cotton varieties were also compared. In 1999 and 2000, bollworm populations on non-transgenic cotton were larger than those on transgenic Bt-cotton. In Bt-cotton fields, the numbers of fourth-generation bollworms were greater than those of in the second and the third generations over all 3 years of study. Leafhopper populations on Bt-cotton were consistently larger than those on non-transgenic cotton during the 3 years of study. Although the use of transgenic Bt-cotton decreased the need for insecticide applications against cotton bollworm, this relaxation from pesticide applications could cause increased populations of sucking insects, which could require additional insecticide applications.

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