ASSESSING THE RISK OF BT PLANTS VS CONVENTIONAL INSECTICIDES INHIBITING BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AND PROMOTING THE EVOLUTION OF RESISTANCE

The goal of this project is to make a comparative assessment of the effects of Bt plants and conventional insecticides on the persistence and population dynamics of a parasitoid and predator and, in turn, their effects on pest suppression and evolution of insecticide resistance in the pest population. To accomplish this we will use our unique tritrophic system of insects that carry resistance to a Bt toxin and two different conventional insecticides, plants that express the Bt toxin, and natural enemies that are suitable for the test. Our studies comprise a set of laboratory, greenhouse, field, and modeling experiments that will help create an understanding of this tritrophic system. We will also explore a general version of the model to provide insights into the dynamics of a broader range of tritrophic systems. The information from our studies will help develop scientifically-based decisions about the effects of introducing GM insect-resistant plants into the environment compared to conventional technologies. The outcome of our work will help regulators make more informed decision and help producers develop programs with enhanced biological control and insect resistance management (IRM) components within the context of overall IPM programs.