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Results reveal that diamondback moth possessing a high level of resistance to Cry1C protoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis can sustain growth the entire life cycle on transgenic broccoli, also expressing high levels of Cry1C. Data point out that the Cry1C resistance is not related to any modification of the binding site.

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), a major pest of cruciferous crops throughout the world, has demonstrated an ability to develop resistance to many different classes of insecticides, including proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis that are expressed in plants (Bt plants). The ovipositional preferences and larval survival of strains (resistant strain, RR; heterozygous strain, RS; susceptible strain, SS) of P. xylostella to CrylAc-expressing broccoli or broccoli plants treated with lambda-cyhalothrin or spinosad were studied under greenhouse condition. Numbers of eggs per plant did not differ between Bt broccoli and non-Bt broccoli for Bt-RR, Bt-RS, and Bt-SS adults. Ovipositing adults (spinosad-RR, spinosad-RS, and spinosad-SS) also could not discriminate between spinosad-treated and untreated plants, and oviposition did not increase over the 13 d after spinosad treatment. For broccoli treated with lambda-cyhalothrin at the diagnostic dose of 20 ppm, all three insect strains (lc-RR, lc-RS, and lc-SS) had constant oviposition over time based on linear regressions. At the field dose of 80 ppm, the Ic-RR strain had constant oviposition over time. The lc-SS susceptible strain had increasing oviposition over time, but the oviposition pattern on the nonsprayed broccoli also increased over time. Susceptible females layed fewer eggs on plants sprayed with lambda-cyhalothrin than on unsprayed plants. A residue-persistence test showed that spinosad and lambda-cyhalothrin could effectively control SS P. xylostella larvae for 7-9 d after application. These results are discussed in relation to their potential impact on insecticide resistance management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the laboratory and in cages in the greenhouse, we evaluated the toxicity of two insecticides (lambda-cyhalothrin and spinosad) on the parasitoid, Diadegma insulare (Cresson), and the predator, Coleomegilla maculate (DeGeer), both natural enemies of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.). Lambda-cyhalothrin was very toxic to both natural enemies. Spinosad was less toxic to C. maculata adults and larvae, and slightly toxic to D. insulare. Both natural enemies suppressed P. xylostella populations in cages with 80% spinosad-treated and 20% nontreated plants; such suppression was not seen when lambda-cyhalothrin was used. Using broccoli, Brassica oleracea L. variety italica, a common host for P. xylostella, we also studied direct and indirect effects of both natural enemies in the presence and absence of the two insecticides and to different P. xylostella genotypes: resistant to the insecticide, susceptible, or heterozygous. Neither natural enemy could distinguish host genotype if P. xylostella were feeding on nontreated plants. They could also not distinguish between larvae feeding on spinosad-treated plants and nontreated plants, but D. insulare could distinguish between larvae feeding on lambda-cyhalothrin treated and nontreated plants. Our studies suggest that lambda-cyhalothrin has direct toxicity to these two natural enemies, can 'affect their host foraging and acceptance of P. xylostella and consequently would not be compatible in conserving these natural enemies in a program for suppression of P. xylostella. In contrast, our studies suggest that treatment with spinosad has much less effect on these natural enemies and would allow them to help suppress populations of P. xylostella. These findings are discussed in relation to the evolution of insecticide resistance and suppression of the pest populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which investigates the resistance of insects to insecticides. The study made use of commercial formulations of the three insecticides such as indoxacarb, spinosad, and Bacillus thuringiensis to determine the resistance of insects to insecticides as well as the SAS program for the analysis of variance. The result of the study shows that the lowest average population density was achieve by the rotated treatment every generation unlike with every third generation.

The ecological safety of transgenic insecticidal plants expressing crystal proteins (Cry toxins) from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) continues to be debated. Much of the debate has focused on nontarget organisms, especially predators and parasitoids that help control populations of pest insects in many crops. Although many studies have been conducted on predators, few reports have examined parasitoids but some of them have reported negative impacts. None of the previous reports were able to clearly characterize the cause of the negative impact. In order to provide a critical assessment, we used a novel paradigm consisting of a strain of the insect pest, Plutella xylostella (herbivore), resistant to Cry1C and allowed it to feed on Bt plants and then become parasitized by Diadegma insulare, an important endoparasitoid of P. xylostella. Our results indicated that the parasitoid was exposed to a biologically active form of the Cy1C protein while in the host but was not harmed by such exposure. Parallel studies conducted with several commonly used insecticides indicated they significantly reduced parasitism rates on strains of P. xylostella resistant to these insecticides. These results provide the first clear evidence of the lack of hazard to a parasitoid by a Bt plant, compared to traditional insecticides, and describe a test to rigorously evaluate the risks Bt plants pose to predators and parasitoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transgenic plants expressing insecticidal proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) were grown on over 13 million ha in the United States and 22.4 million ha worldwide in 2004. Preventing or slowing the evolution of resistance by insects ("resistance management") is critical for the sustainable use of Bt crops. Plants containing two dissimilar Bt toxin genes in the same plant ("pyramided") have the potential to delay insect resistance. However, the advantage of pyramided Bt plants for resistance management may be compromised if they share similar toxins with single-gene plants that are deployed simultaneously. We tested this hypothesis using a unique model system composed of broccoli plants transformed to express different Cry toxins (CrylAc, CryiC, or both) and a synthetic population of the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) carrying genes for resistance to CrylAc and CryiC at frequencies of 0.10 and 0.34, respectively. After 24-26 generations of selection in the greenhouse, the concurrent use of one- and two-gene plants resulted in control failure of both types of Bt plants. When only two-gene plants were used in the selection, no or few insects survived on one- or two-gene Bt plants, indicating that concurrent use of transgenic plants expressing a single and two Bt genes will select for resistance to two-gene plants more rapidly than the use of two-gene plants alone. The results of this experiment agree with the predictions of a Mendelian deterministic simulation model and have important implications for the regulation and deployment of pyramided Bt plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preventing insect pests from developing resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins produced by transgenic crops is a major challenge for agriculture. Theoretical models suggest that plants containing two dissimilar Bt toxin genes ('pyramided' plants) have the potential to delay resistance more effectively than single-toxin plants used sequentially or in mosaics. To test these predictions, we developed a unique model system consisting of Bt transgenic broccoli plants and the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. We conducted a greenhouse study using an artificial population of diamondback moths carrying genes for resistance to the Bt toxins Cry1Ac and Cry1C at frequencies of about 0.10 and 0.20, respectively. After 24 generations of selection, resistance to pyramided two-gene plants was significantly delayed as compared with resistance to single-gene plants deployed in mosaics, and to Cry1Ac toxin when it was the first used in a sequence. These results have important implications for the development and regulation of transgenic insecticidal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the difference in the cross-resistance patterns in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, to Bacillus thuringiensis toxin Cryl C. Materials and methods; Results of the study; Discussion of findings.

Studies the development and characterization of Diamondback moth resistance to transgenic broccoli expressing high levels of Cry1C protoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis. Development and stability of resistance; Inheritance of Cry1C resistance.

Leaf bioassays and oviposition choice tests were used to investigatethe effects of transgenic broccoli expressing Cry1Ac toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) on susceptible and resistant Plutella xylostella (L.) larvae. Survival of susceptible 2nd instars on Cry1Ac-expressing broccoli declined from 99.1 to 19.2% at 24 and 72 h, respectively, and larvae exhibited an average weight loss of 0.2 mg/10 larvae at 24 h. Larvae that evolved resistance to foliar sprays of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki in the field, however, showed no debilitating effects from the Cry1Ac broccoli. Survival of resistant larvae at 24 and 72 h was 98.6 and 90.8%, respectively, and weight gain at 24 hwas 1.7 mg/10 larvae, none of which was significantly different fromsurvival or weight gain on control plants. In oviposition choice tests, both susceptible and resistant females were unable to discriminate between Cry1Ac and normal broccoli, laying approx. 38-41 eggs per plant per 2 females. Comparing mortality of susceptible larvae on 2 lines of transgenic broccoli (J1R and K20) derived from independent transformation events, we found that the majority of the variance (43.2%) in toxin expression was caused by transformation. Depending upon the transformation, plant could be a significant source of variation but toxin expression within plant was always fairly uniform. Our data indicate that resistance to sprays of B. thuringiensis can confer resistance to plants when similar toxins are involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]