Resistance development

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Plant pests are adaptable. Generally, they are capable of developing resistance – both to insecticides and to substances produced by the plants themselves for their own protection, as in the case of Bt maize. The fear is that if Bt maize is grown on a large scale, insects resistant to the Bt toxin could multiply very quickly, since they would have a survival advantage.

Results

• Resistance development. Safety research results

 

Western corn rootworm

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Since the Western corn rootworm is a new pest in Europe (in Germany it was first spotted in the summer of 2007), research is taking place only in the laboratory and under special safety conditions.

Research info

• SiFo project (2005-2008): Development of resistance to Bt maize among Western corn rootworm through alternative host plants, University of Göttingen

• SiFo project (2005-2008): Research into the activation of Bt proteins in the Western corn rootworm, BBA Darmstadt (since 2008 JKI)

Science live

• What the pest likes to eat: Resistance development through alternative host plants? (09/2006)

 

European corn borer

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Insect-resistant Bt maize that produces an insecticide to combat the European corn borer within the plant itself is already grown on millions of hectares worldwide and is also authorised for cultivation in Europe. This means that large-scale cultivation – a condition for possible resistance development – already exists for these Bt maize varieties. So far though, no resistant insects have been found. Is the prescribed resistance management having an effect, or is the appearance of resistant insects just a matter of time?

Sience live

• Wanted: Resistant European corn borers! (7/2003)

• Interview with Gustav-Adolf Langenbruch (BBA, since 2008 JKI). "So far we have found no resistant organisms."

Background

• US study: No resistant pests (9/2003)