Field Plots

From 2004-2005, experimental transgenic cotton lines containing Vip3A (2004 and 2005), Cry1Ab (2005), or Cry1Ab stacked with Vip3A (2005) were planted in research plots in the Mississippi Delta (Table 1). In 2004, three different transgenic cotton lines containing the Vip3A event were planted near Stoneville, MS in early May with plots consisting of 2 rows (1.0 m centers × 10.67 m). These events (COT102, COT202 and COT203) contained different promoters driving Vip3A expression, where COT202 and COT203 contained a more robust promoter than COT102. In 2005, eight different transgenic cotton lines containing Vip3A, Cry1Ab, or Cry1Ab stacked with Vip3A events were planted in late Apr near Scott, MS with plots consisting of 4 rows (1.0 m centers × 12.20 m). In addition, 3 different Cry1Ab lines that had different insertion events (02A, 67B, and 69D) were evaluated. All plots were arranged in a randomized complete block design with each variety replicated 4 times (once in each block, except COT102 replicated twice in each block in 2004). Only insecticides not active on Lepidoptera were applied to all plots throughout the season as dictated by local management practices. All Lepidoptera (beet and fall armyworms, bollworms, and tobacco budworms) utilized in these studies were obtained from laboratory colonies maintained at the USDA, ARS, Southern Insect Management Research Unit, located in Stoneville, MS.

Efficacy of Vip3A Events (2004)

Terminal leaves or flower buds (squares, fall armyworms only) containing 3 Vip3A events were assayed for bioactivity against beet armyworms, fall armyworms, bollworms, and tobacco budworm neonates (Table 1). Squares were utilized to evaluate activity against fall armyworms because the larval stage primarily feeds on fruit (Adamczyk et al. 1998). Individual leaves or squares collected from plants that had begun to flower were placed into a Tight-Fit Lid sealing Petri dish (50 × 9 mm, BD Falcon® #351006, VWR International). A single larva was placed in a dish containing a single terminal leaf or square. Ten dishes per plot were used for bollworms, while 20 dishes per plot were used for beet armyworms and tobacco budworms. Thirty dishes per plot were used for fall armyworms. At various days after exposure to cotton tissue, larvae were prodded with a camel-hair brush and considered dead if no coordinated movement was observed. Percent mortality of neonates was analyzed by REML-ANOVA, and means were separated by LSMEANS (Littell et al. 1996; PROC MIXED, SAS Institute 2001).

Because of the historic ability of the tobacco budworm to cause severe economic losses to cotton, a field experiment was conducted to further evaluate efficacy of the Vip3A events against this pest. Two 1-d-old larvae were placed on a single terminal and covered with a nylon cage to prevent interplant movement (Fig. 1). Plants were at the pre-bloom stage at the time of infestations. Ten cages were utilized per plot. After 2 d, 3 cages per plot were removed and larval mortality was recorded. The remaining cages were removed and assessed at 5 d after larval infestations. All larvae that were alive were placed in individual 1-oz soufflé cups and transported to the laboratory in a cooler containing ice. Larvae were weighed within 2 h.

Efficacy of the Vip3A, Cry1Ab, and Cry1Ab + Vip3A Traits (2005)

Terminal leaves from different cotton lines containing 2 Vip3A events, 3 Cry1Ab events, and 3 Cry1Ab stacked with Vip3A events were assayed as described above for bioactivity against beet armyworms, fall armyworms, bollworms, and tobacco budworm neonates (Table 1). Three larvae (tobacco budworms) or a single larva (all other species) were placed in a dish containing a single terminal leaf from plants that had begun to flower. Ten dishes per plot were utilized for all species, and mortality was assessed at 5 days after exposure. Percent mortality of neonates was combined by trait and analyzed by REML-ANOVA. Means were separated by LSMEANS (Littell et al. 1996; PROC MIXED, SAS Institute 2001).

Efficacy of Vip3A Events (2004)

All cotton lines containing the Vip3A event caused significantly higher mortality against all examined pests compared to conventional cotton (Fig. 2 and Fig. 4). COT202 and/or COT203 were significantly more efficacious than COT102 against the bollworm, tobacco budworm, and beet armyworms (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3), although not apparent for fall armyworms fed squares (Fig. 4). All cottons containing the Vip3A event significantly reduced the number of tobacco budworms recovered alive 5 d after infestation when caged on terminals, although no cotton caused 100% mortality (Fig. 5). In addition, the weight of larvae recovered alive at 5 d after infestation from all cotton with the Vip3A event was significantly less than those larvae recovered alive from conventional cotton. However, tobacco budworms recovered from COT202 and COT203 weighed significantly less than larvae recovered from COT102 (Fig. 6).

Efficacy of the Vip3A, Cry1Ab, and Cry1Ab + Vip3A Traits (2005)

All cotton lines containing the Vip3A or Cry1Ab trait caused significantly higher mortality against tobacco budworm larvae than conventional cotton (Fig. 7A). In addition, cotton lines containing the stacked Cry1Ab + Vip3A trait caused significantly higher mortality than cotton containing just the Vip3A trait. There were no significant differences in larval mortality when tobacco budworm larvae were fed with cotton containing Cry1Ab alone or stacked with Vip3A.

In contrast, lines that contained just the Vip3A trait were equally efficacious against bollworm larvae compared to lines containing just the Cry1Ab trait or lines containing the stacked Cry1Ab + Vip3A trait (Fig. 7B). Similar to the data for tobacco budworms, all cotton lines containing Vip3A or Cry1Ab traits caused significantly higher mortality against bollworm larvae compared to conventional cotton.

For both beet and fall armyworms, cotton lines containing the Vip3A trait caused significantly higher morality compared to cotton lines containing just the Cry1Ab trait (Fig. 8). All cotton lines containing Vip3A or Cry1Ab traits caused significantly higher mortality against beet and fall armyworm larvae compared to conventional cotton. There were no significant differences in larval mortality when beet and fall armyworm larvae were fed cotton that contained Vip3A alone or stacked with Cry1Ab.

The efficacy of Vip3A and Cry1Ab against Lepidoptera is species-specific. Our study shows that the cotton lines containing Vip3A are more efficacious against beet and fall armyworms compared to the Cry1Ab cotton lines, while the opposite relationship is true for tobacco budworms. Previous studies have shown that certain Lepidoptera, such as tobacco budworms, are more susceptible to Cry1Ac compared to bollworms and fall armyworms, while Cry1F provides greater efficacy against fall armyworms compared to Cry1Ac (MacIntosh et al. 1990; Adamczyk et al. 1998; Adamczyk & Gore 2004). In addition, no additive or synergistic relationship between the Vip3A and Cry1Ab traits in these particular cotton lines was observed. This is similar to what was reported for the 2 Cry proteins in WideStrike® cotton (Adamczyk & Gore 2004). Parker & Livingston (2005) reported that private industry is developing a transgenic cotton trait containing a Vip3A trait stacked with Cry1Ab trait (VipCot™). This would provide a much better spectrum of Lepidopteran control than one with the traits expressed individually.