Field Performance of A VipCotTM Line Against Heliothines in Louisiana P. L. Bommireddy, J. Temple, K. Emfinger, P. Price K. Fontenot, and B. R. Leonard
Evolution of Commercialized Bt Cotton 1996 Bollgard Single gene cry1Ac (endotoxin) 2003 Bollgard II Stacked genes cry1Ac + cry2Ab (endotoxins) 2008 VipCot Novel Protein Vip3A + cry1Ab (exo/endotoxins) 2005 Widestrike Stacked genes cry1Ac + cry1f (endotoxins) +
Vip = Vegetative insecticidal protein TM VipCot Bacterium (Bt) Vegetative stage Reproductive stage Cry Vip Vip = Vegetative insecticidal protein VipCotTM = Vip3A + Cry1Ab
Objective To determine level of fruiting form injury and survivorship of heliothine larvae on VipCot and non-transgenic cotton
Heliothis virescens (F.) Primary Pests (Heliothine complex) Tobacco Budworm Heliothis virescens (F.) Bollworm Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) Larva
Study Site Macon Ridge Research Station - Winnsboro, LA Years: 2005-07
1. Non-Bt (Coker 312) 2. Vip 3A 3. Vip 3A + Cry1Ab (VipCot) Field Trial – Native Infestation 1. Non-Bt (Coker 312) 2. Vip 3A 3. Vip 3A + Cry1Ab (VipCot)
Design, Collection & Analysis Completely randomized design Injured fruiting forms (%), surviving larvae, seasonal durability ANOVA (PROC MIXED) Repeated measures ANOVA (PROC MIXED)
Vip 3A and VipCotTM Efficacy 2005-2007 Summary Injury (%) Infested forms (%) Coker 312 14.1a 4.6a Vip3A 4.1b 1.0b VipCot 0.9c 0.1c P > F < 0.0001 Means within a column followed by same letter are not statistically different Sample n 2005-06-07 : 6-10-9
Seasonal Durability 2005-2007 Summary No. / 25 fruiting forms Days after planting
Non-Bt Bt
Cotton lines 1. Non-Bt (Coker 312) 2. Vip 3A Field Trial – Artificial Infestation Cotton lines 1. Non-Bt (Coker 312) 2. Vip 3A 3. Vip 3A + Cry1Ab (VipCot) Two species 1. H. zea 2. H. virescens
Design, Collection & Analysis RBD - Date of infestation as blocks Sample size (n) = 75 Injured fruiting forms, surviving larvae Repeated measures ANOVA (PROC MIXED)
Injured Fruiting Forms Days after infestation H. zea H. virescens No. injured / 25 plants Days after infestation
Days after infestation Surviving Larvae H. zea H. virescens No. per 25 larvae Days after infestation
Distribution of Fruiting Form Injury H. zea H. virescens a a No. /individual larva b b a a a a a a a a b c a c c b b b b b b b Fruiting forms
Conclusions Low injury levels on Bt cotton lines Combination of two proteins (Vip3A + Cry1Ab) gives better control Season long efficacy
Acknowledgments Ralph Sheppard, Sara Lowe, Sierra Jones, Beth Padgett, Betsy Lowe, Abbey Lockett, and other personnel at the Macon Ridge Research Station. Louisiana Cotton Producers