title: Can Pyramids and Seed Mixtures Delay Resistance to Bt Crops?
abstract: The primary strategy for delaying the evolution of pest resistance to transgenic crops that produce insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) entails refuges of plants that do not produce Bt toxins and thus allow survival of susceptible pests. Recent advances include using refuges together with Bt crop 'pyramids' that make two or more Bt toxins effective against the same pest, and planting seed mixtures yielding random distributions of pyramided Bt and non-Bt corn plants within fields. We conclude that conditions often deviate from those favoring the success of pyramids and seed mixtures, particularly against pests with low inherent susceptibility to Bt toxins. For these problematic pests, promising approaches include using larger refuges and integrating Bt crops with other pest management tactics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. Electronic address: ycarrier@ag.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Carrière
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service, US Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ 85138, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fabrick
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
authors.forename: Bruce E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Tabashnik
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000235:genetics; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D003368:Gossypium / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D007300:Insect Control / Q000379:methods*; D007313:Insecta / Q000187:drug effects*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins
keywords: cross-resistance; genetically engineered; redundant killing; resistance management; sustainability; transgenic