RESISTANCE EVALUATION IN PINK BOLLWORM AGAINST TRANSGENIC COTTON UNDER LABORATORY AND FIELD CONDITIONS IN PAKISTAN

Transgenic crops were developed to show resistance against major Lepidopteran pests attacking and causing loss to the crops. Transgenic cotton containing single gene of resistance against Lepidopteran pests is generally grown in Pakistan. With the time, insects started developing resistance against transgenic cotton. Our studies were conducted under laboratory and field conditions. In the laboratory studies, mortality tests were conducted while under field conditions population densities were observed. Results showed that higher survival of pink boll worms was found on transgenic cotton as well as on non transgenic cotton under laboratory conditions. Field studies were also in conjugation with laboratory studies where higher population densities were observed proving that resistance has been evolved in pink boll worm against transgenic cotton. Hence keeping the assumption it can be asserted that transgenic cotton containing single or pyramided Bt proteins expressed on different genes should be developed and commercialized in Pakistan to combat the resistance in Lepidopteran pests like pink boll worm against transgenic cotton.