Are bugs getting used to Bt maize?

General concern has been voiced about the possible build-up of insect resistance to Bt maize.
Issue date 25 May 2007

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General concern has been voiced about the possible build-up of insect resistance to Bt maize. Prof Koos van Rensburg of the Grain Crops Institute of the Agricultural Research Council investigated the matter, but found very few infestations by stem borers during the previous season on GM maize plants. This is according to a report by Willem Engelbrecht, chairperson of the genetically modified seed standing committee of the SA National Seed Organisation (Sansor), which was released at Sansor’s annual meeting held recently in Stellenbosch.

Van Rensburg will continue the investigation this season and he requested seed companies to contact him urgently should more cases be reported in the coming season, as he needs larvae from more localities to test whether the insects have indeed become resistant to Bt maize. In the meantime, a standardised investigation procedure for complaints of insect resistance on maize and cotton has been finalised. Sansor’s genetically modified seed committee also decided to keep a database of complaints concerning insect resistance to identify areas where it occurs, as well as to record the number of complaints for future reference, according to Engelbrecht. – Glenneis Erasmus