ONE OF OUR NATION'S TOP PRIORITIES IN AGRICULTURE IS TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY METHODS OF CROP PROTECTION. BECAUSE OF THEIR SAFETY AND SPECIFICITY, INSECTICIDAL PROTEINS FROM THE BACTERIUM BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS (BT) CAN HELP TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL. DURING 2017, TRANSGENIC CULTIVARS THAT PRODUCE BT TOXINS CONSTITUTED 85% OF THE COTTON AND 80% OF THE CORN IN THE U.S. BENEFITS OF BT CROPS INCLUDE REDUCED INSECTICIDE USE, REGIONAL PEST SUPPRESSION, INCREASED YIELD, AND INCREASED PROFIT. EVOLUTION OF RESISTANCE BY PESTS IS THE MOST SERIOUS RISK THREATENING THE CONTINUED EFFICACY OF BT CROPS. THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE KEY DATA FOR UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING PEST RESISTANCE TO BT CROPS, THEREBY PROMOTING AGRICULTURE THAT IS SAFER, MORE SUSTAINABLE, MORE PROFITABLE, AND MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.

University Of Arizona, Tucson AZ

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