EFFICACY OF VIP3A AND CRY1AB TRANSGENIC TRAITS IN COTTON AGAINST VARIOUS LEPIDOPTERAN PESTS

From 2004 through 2005, plots of experimental transgenic cotton lines containing the vegetative insecticidal protein, Vip3A; delta-endotoxin, Cry1Ab; and both Vip3A and Cry1Ab were evaluated for efficacy against certain lepidopteran pests. Results showed that the cotton line containing Vip3A was more efficacious against the beet Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) and fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) compared to the Cry1Ab cotton line; however, the Cry1Ab cotton line was more efficacious against the tobacco budworm Heliothis virescens F. compared to the cotton line containing Vip3A. Both the Vip3A and Cry1Ab cotton lines provided similar mortality against the bollworm Helicoverpa zea (Boddie). No synergism between Vip3A and Cry1Ab was observed.