Slowing insect resistance to genetically modified crops
Genetically modified Bt crops are now widely used in the USA.
These crops contain genes from bacteria that make them toxic to some insect pests. A central concern in regulating these genetically modified crops is the risk of insects evolving resistance to the Bt toxins.
To reduce this risk, the “high dose/refuge” strategy is now being used, in which non-Bt fields (refuges for insect pests) are planted near Bt fields (where there is high dose of toxin).
In the November issue of Ecology Letters, Ives and Andow use mathematical theory to explain how the high dose/refuge strategy works. This analysis leads to several unexpected results. For example, for some Bt crops and some pests, spraying insecticides in refuges should not severely compromise the value of refuges.
This makes the high dose/refuge strategy more practical by allowing farmers to protect their crops in refuges. The new theory could lead to new resistance management strategies.
Media Contact
All latest news from the category: Agricultural and Forestry Science
Newest articles
A blueprint for mapping melting ice sheets
Researchers in the Stanford Radio Glaciology lab use radio waves to understand rapidly changing ice sheets and their contributions to global sea-level rise. This technique has revealed groundwater beneath Greenland,…
Water hyacinth plant pots – utilization of an invasive species
Together with Fiber Engineering GmbH, the DITF presents a process for the production of biodegradable plant pots. The products are cost effective and competitive. At the same time, the production…
Current research on the new 6G mobile communications standard
Nursing care robots, autonomous driving, digital twins: all of these high-tech applications will play an essential role for the new 6G mobile communications standard. The first commercial 6G networks are…