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Indian Journal of Experimental Biology (IJEB) >
IJEB Vol.45 [2007] >
IJEB Vol.45(06) [June 2007] >
| Title: | Effect of Bt-cotton on chrysopids, ladybird beetles and their prey: Aphids and whiteflies |
| Authors: | Mellet, M A
Schoeman, A S |
| Keywords: | Bacillus thuringiensis
Biological control
Predator-prey interactions
Transgenic cotton |
| Issue Date: | Jun-2007 |
| Publisher: | CSIR |
| Abstract: | The effect of Bt-cotton, i.e. genetically modified cotton that contain genes expressing  -endotoxin, on aphid, whitefly, chrysopid and coccinellid populations was determined with a two-year field study at a cotton farm near Marble Hall, South Africa. Although Bt-cotton is lepidopteran specific, non-lepidopteran arthropod populations may be indirectly influenced by the endotoxin. Abundance of aphid, whitefly, chrysopid and coccinellid populations and predator-prey interactions were used as measures to determine possible effects on the populations under investigation. The cultivation of Bt-cotton had no effect on aphid, whitefly, chrysopid or coccinellid abundance. Positive density dependent interactions occurred between aphids and coccinellids which were not influenced by Bt-cotton. A significant relationship between whitefly and coccinellid abundance, i.e. predator-prey reaction, occurred in the control and sprayed non-Bt cotton fields but was absent from the Bt-cotton fields. |
| Page(s): | 554-562 |
| ISSN: | 0975-1009 (Online); 0019-5189 (Print) |
| Source: | IJEB Vol.45(06) [June 2007]
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