AI Article Synopsis

  • The study focuses on managing the diamondback moth pest in broccoli through a combination of host plant resistance, biological control, and insecticides.
  • The researchers developed a model to analyze how these strategies interact and impact the long-term effectiveness of pest management, emphasizing the importance of parasitoids in controlling the moth population.
  • The findings suggest that integrating Bt broccoli with insecticide-free refuges can help delay the resistance development in pests, but maintaining these refuges is crucial for sustained pest management success.

Article Abstract

The tools of insect pest management include host plant resistance, biological control, and insecticides and how they are integrated will influence the durability of each. We created a detailed model of the population dynamics and population genetics of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L., and its parasitoid, Diadegma insulare (Cresson), to study long-term pest management in broccoli Brassica oleracea L. Given this pest's history of evolving resistance to various toxins, we also evaluated the evolution of resistance to transgenic insecticidal Bt broccoli (expressing Cry1Ac) and two types of insecticides. Simulations demonstrated that parasitism provided the most reliable, long-term control of P. xylostella populations. Use of Bt broccoli with a 10% insecticide-free refuge did not reduce the long-term contribution of parasitism to pest control. Small refuges within Bt broccoli fields can delay evolution of resistance > 30 generations if resistance alleles are rare in the pest population. However, the effectiveness of these refuges can be compromised by insecticide use. Rainfall mortality during the pest's egg and neonate stages significantly influences pest control but especially resistance management. Our model results support the idea that Bt crops and biological control can be integrated in integrated pest management and actually synergistically support each other. However, the planting and maintenance of toxin-free refuges are critical to this integration.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/ec12287DOI Listing

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