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Suppression of Cotton Bollworm in Multiple Crops in China in Areas with Bt Toxin-Containing Cotton

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Abstract or Summary

Transgenic cotton that has been engineered to produce insecticidaltoxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and so to resist thepest cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) has been widelyplanted in Asia. Analysis of the population dynamics of H. armigerafrom 1992 to 2007 in China indicated that a marked decreasein regional outbreaks of this pest in multiple crops was associatedwith the planting of Bt cotton. The study area included sixprovinces in northern China with an annual total of 3 millionhectares of cotton and 22 million hectares of other crops (corn,peanuts, soybeans, and vegetables) grown by more than 10 millionresource-poor farmers. Our data suggest that Bt cotton not onlycontrols H. armigera on transgenic cotton designed to resistthis pest but also may reduce its presence on other host cropsand may decrease the need for insecticide sprays in general.

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