Pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella is one of the major pests of American bollworm complex. It is known to occur during later stages of cotton crop growth. Pink Bollworm (PBW) is a prominent pest posing significant challenge for cotton farmers, causing substantial economic losses in cotton-growing regions.
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Key Insights on Pink Bollworm (PBW):
- The Pink Bollworm, scientifically known as Pectinophora Gossypiella, predominantly affects cotton crops by damaging developing cotton fruit parts such as the square (flower bud) and the boll (rounded sac of seeds with cotton fibers).
Major Concerns:
- Indian farmers have encountered persistent challenges with Bt cotton crops due to these infestations since the mid-2000s. During this time, scientists identified the insect’s resistance to the Cry1Ac gene, a component of the genetically modified cotton variety, Bt cotton.
- Bt cotton was introduced in India in 2002 following its success in the United States and Australia in 1996. This introduction aimed to protect against various bollworm species, including the American, spotted, and pink bollworms, through the Cry1Ac toxin.
- Another notable pest affecting cotton crops is the Fruit Borer.
Development of Resistance:
- Evolution of Bt cotton and the consequent rise in pest resistance to genetically modified varieties unfolded over several decades.
- The 1970s witnessed regular infestations by pink bollworm, American bollworm, and whitefly, posing moderate threats to cotton crops.
- By 1985, the American bollworm emerged as a major threat due to its resistance to various insecticides.
- In 2002, the introduction of Bt cotton (Bollgard-I) offered protection against multiple bollworm species through the Cry1Ac toxin.
- They subsequently made modifications to Bt cotton, encoding it with the Cry2Ab gene to enhance resistance against the American bollworm.
- Over the years, researchers noticed instances of pink bollworm survival and resistance to Bt cotton components, confirming resistance to Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab genes in different regions.
- The 2020s witnessed persistent outbreaks of pink bollworm infestation in regions like Punjab, Haryana, and the establishment of Bt cotton-resistant pink bollworm populations in the northern zone by 2023.
Proposed Solutions:
Understanding and studying Cotton Pest Dynamics is crucial. It involves analyzing pest population behaviors, influential factors, and developing effective pest management strategies to mitigate their impact on cotton crops.
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