Brief on Introduction and Evaluation of Transgenic Bt-cotton for Efficacy against Cotton Bollworms in Kenya

Transcription

1 Brief on Introduction and Evaluation of Transgenic Bt-cotton for Efficacy against Cotton Bollworms in Kenya Dr. Charles N Waturu KARI-Thika P.O. Box 220, Thika, Kenya karithika@africaonline.co.ke

2 Why Bt Cotton? Pest control and related activities take up about 32% of crop production cost Bollworms can cause 100% damage if unchecked Pollution of environment by insecticides 2

3 Why Bt Cotton? Effect of insecticides on non-target beneficial organisms Toxicity to human beings and other animals Resistance and cross resistance to pesticides

4 Important Chewing Pests o African bollworm- Helicoverpa armigera o Spiny bollworm- Earias insulana o Pink bollworm - Pectinophora gossypiella

5 Square Damage 5

6 Boll Damage 6

7 Semi-looper and Damage (Sporadic) 7

8 Important Sucking Pests o o Spider mite Tetranychus spp. o Jassid Empoasca spp.

9 Important Sucking Pests oaphid Aphis gossypii owhitefly Bemisia tabaci ocotton stainer Dysdercus spp

10 Research theme 1 Screen-house Evaluation of NuCotn 35B For Impact on Selected Target and Nontarget Arthropods

11 Experiment Objectives Verify efficacy on African bollworms (Helicoverpa armigera) larvae Verify direct (bitrophic) effect on Trichogramma spp. Verify indirect (tritrophic) effect on Trichogramma spp. Verify effect on Aphis gossypii

12 Experimental Materials and Method

13 Findings Bt cotton caused mortality of Helicoverpa armigera larvae No direct or indirect effect on Trichogramma spp. No effect on Aphis gossypii

14 Research Theme 2 Field Evaluation of Transgenic Bt Cotton in Kenya

15 Project 1 Confined Field Trials with Bollgard 1 varieties DP 448B and DP 404BG

16 Project 2 Confined Field Trials with Bollgard II variety 06Z604D

17 Objectives Evaluate efficacy against African Bollworms and other arthropod pests Study the effect on beneficial arthropods and general species diversity Evaluate risks of intercrossing with commercial cotton variety HART 89M Evaluate economic advantage over commercial cotton variety

18 Findings BG I and BG II effective against African Bollworms BG I and BG II had no effect on beneficial arthropods Intercrossing possible with commercial cotton variety Indications that BG I and BG II had higher economic advantage over commercial cotton variety

19 Research Theme 3 Baseline Biodiversity Impact Studies of Transgenic Bt cotton on Wild Ecosystems in the East African Region 19

20 Justification Fears of transgenic crops Lack of technical capacities of regulatory authorities to make scientifically based decisions during reviews and management of CFT applications 20

21 Justification Con t Lack of baseline data for monitoring, evaluating and gauging the impact of Bt cotton after commercialization in the East Africa region Lack of adequate data, and technical capacity to handle all aspects necessary for the implementation of bio-safety and management of transgenic crops 21

22 Objectives To study and evaluate the ecological consequences of gene flow between transgenic Bt-cotton and wild cotton relatives in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda To assess the impact of transgenic Bt-cotton on arthropod biodiversity in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda 22

23 Achievements Surveys for wild cotton in Kenya and Tanzania accomplished One season ( 2007) data on impact of transgenic Bt-cotton on arthropod biodiversity accomplished in Kenya

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