Effects of Transgenic Bt+CpTI Cotton on Field Abundance of Non-Target Pests and Predators in Xinjiang, China

• Main Authors: Yao XU, Kong-ming WU, Hao-bing LI, Jian LIU, Rui-feng DING, Fei WANG, Uwayis Ahtam, Hai-qiang LI, Dong-mei WANG, Xue-xin CHEN
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2012-09-01
• Series: Journal of Integrative Agriculture
• Subjects: transgenic Bt+CpTI cotton; non-target pests; predators; Xinjiang
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S209531191260149X

Transgenic insect-resistant cotton is being increasingly planted in Xinjiang cotton-planting regions, where geographical climate conditions and species composition of pests and natural enemies are greatly unique in China. Limited studies have been conducted on the ecological impacts of transgenic insect-resistant cotton, especially for transgenic double genes (Bt+CpTI) cotton, in this region. In this study, the potential effects of transgenic Bt+CpTI cotton on the seasonal abundance of non-target pests and predators were assessed from 2009 to 2011 in Korla, Xinjiang. The results showed that species composition and seasonal abundance of 5 groups of pests and 5 groups of predators were not significantly different between transgenic Bt+CpTI cotton and non-transgenic cotton every year. It suggests that transgenic Bt+CpTI cotton per se does not affect the population dynamics of non-target pests and predators on this crop in Xinjiang.