title: Current situation of pests targeted by Bt crops in Latin America.
abstract: Transgenic crops producing Bacillus thuringiensis- (Bt) insecticidal proteins (Bt crops) have provided useful pest management tools to growers for the past 20 years. Planting Bt crops has reduced the use of synthetic insecticides on cotton, maize and soybean fields in 11 countries throughout Latin America. One of the threats that could jeopardize the sustainability of Bt crops is the development of resistance by targeted pests. Governments of many countries require vigilance in measuring changes in Bt-susceptibility in order to proactively implement corrective measures before Bt-resistance is widespread, thus prolonging the usefulness of Bt crops. A pragmatic approach to obtain information on the effectiveness of Bt-crops is directly asking growers, crop consultants and academics about Bt-resistance problems in agricultural fields, first-hand information that not necessarily relies on susceptibility screens performed in laboratories. This type of information is presented in this report. Problematic pests of cotton and soybeans in five Latin American countries currently are effectively controlled by Bt crops. Growers that plant conventional (non-Bt) cotton or soybeans have to spray synthetic insecticides against multiple pests that otherwise are controlled by these Bt crops. A similar situation has been observed in six Latin American countries where Bt maize is planted. No synthetic insecticide applications are used to control corn pests because they are controlled by Bt maize, with the exception of Spodoptera frugiperda. While this insect in some countries is still effectively controlled by Bt maize, in others resistance has evolved and necessitates supplemental insecticide applications and/or the use of Bt maize cultivars that express multiple Bt proteins. Partial control of S. frugiperda in certain countries is due to its natural tolerance to the Bt bacterium. Of the 31 pests targeted and controlled by Bt crops in Latin America, only S. frugiperda has shown tolerance to certain Bt proteins in growers' fields, the most reliable indication of the status of Bt-susceptibility in most of the American continent.
authors.affiliation: University of New Mexico, 544 Jurgensen Place, Landover, MD, USA. Electronic address: carlos.blanco1206@gmail.com.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.affiliation: Ento Agro, Roberto Kock 4194, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chiaravalle
authors.affiliation: INIA, Ruta 48 Km 10, Canelones, Uruguay.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dalla-Rizza
authors.affiliation: Instituto Phytus, 2319 Duque de Caxias Street, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Farias
authors.affiliation: EEAOC-CONICET-ITANOA, Sección Zoología Agrícola William Cross 3150, Las Talitas, 4101 Tucumán, Argentina.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: García-Degano
authors.affiliation: EEAOC-CONICET-ITANOA, Sección Zoología Agrícola William Cross 3150, Las Talitas, 4101 Tucumán, Argentina.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gastaminza
authors.affiliation: Michigan State University, Department of Entomology, 1129 Farm Lane, East Lansing, MI, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mota-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: EEAOC-CONICET-ITANOA, Sección Zoología Agrícola William Cross 3150, Las Talitas, 4101 Tucumán, Argentina.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Murúa
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture (ESALQ), 11 Pádua Dias Av., Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Omoto
authors.affiliation: 260 Longswitch Road, Leland, MS, USA.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Pieralisi
authors.affiliation: Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, Km 17, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo, Edo. Mex., Mexico.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Maciel
authors.affiliation: Pioneer HiBreed, Carr. #3km 154.9, Salinas, 00751 PR, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Terán-Santofimio
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Cuauhtémoc, Tamps, Mexico.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Terán-Vargas
authors.affiliation: Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, Km 17, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Valencia
authors.affiliation: EEAOC-CONICET-ITANOA, Sección Zoología Agrícola William Cross 3150, Las Talitas, 4101 Tucumán, Argentina.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Willink
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000737:chemistry; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology*; D007305:Insecticide Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D007843:Latin America; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified