**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE SOIL BACTERIUM BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS (BT) IS AN IMPORTANT MICROBIAL INSECT PATHOGEN AND HAS BEEN USED AS A MAJOR BIOLOGICAL INSECTICIDE FOR INSECT PEST CONTROL. BT GENES CODING FOR INSECTICIDAL TOXINS ARE THE PRIMARY INSECTICIDAL GENES USED IN INSECT-RESISTANT TRANSGENIC CROPS (BT-CROPS). BT-CROPS HAVE BEEN WIDELY ADOPTED AND THE ACREAGE OF BT-CROPS WORLDWIDE HAS REACHED TO >100 MILLION HECTARES WITH PROVEN ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS. HOWEVER, THE WIDESPREAD APPLICATION OF BT TOXINS IN AGRICULTURE IMPOSES INTENSE SELECTION PRESSURE ON INSECTS TO EVOLVE RESISTANCE TO THE BT TOXINS, AND CASES OF BT RESISTANCE HAVE BEEN INCREASINGLY REPORTED. THE RISK OF RESISTANCE DEVELOPMENT IN INSECTS IN RESPONSE TO THE WIDESPREAD PLANTING OF BT-CROPS CONTINUOUSLY REQUIRES URGENT ATTENTION. ASSESSMENT OF BT RESISTANCE DEVELOPMENT IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR INSECT-RESISTANT GE-CROPS.ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE RISK OF RESISTANCE DEVELOPMENT TO BT-CROPS CRITICALLY RELIES ON BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF VARIOUS MOLECULAR GENETIC MECHANISMS OF INSECT RESISTANCE TO BT TOXINS. DISCOVERY AND UNDERSTANDING OF NEW BT RESISTANCE GENES AND RESISTANCE-CONFERRING MUTATIONS IN INSECTS CONTINUE TO BE AN URGENT NEED FOR ADEQUATE ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE RISK OF DEVELOPMENT OF INSECT RESISTANCE TO BT-CROPS. WE HAVE RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT THE HIGH-LEVEL RESISTANCE TO THE BT TOXIN CRY1AC IN THE CABBAGE LOOPER, TRICHOPLUSIA NI, WHICH ENABLES THE INSECTS TO FEED AND SURVIVE ON BT-COTTON PLANTS, IS CONFERRED BY MULTI-GENE MUTATIONS WITH A NOVEL RESISTANCE GENE TO BE IDENTIFIED AND UNDERSTOOD. WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ISOLATED THE NEW RESISTANCE TRAITS AND ESTABLISHED A BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH SYSTEM TO STUDY THE NOVEL RESISTANCE GENE AND THE MECHANISM OF RESISTANCE. THIS PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO DISCOVER THE NOVEL BT RESISTANCE GENE AND TO REVEAL THE NEW MOLECULAR GENETIC MECHANISM OF BT RESISTANCE IN INSECTS, TO PROVIDE FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED FOR ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE RISK OF INSECT RESISTANCE TO BT-CROPS AND TO GENERATE INSECT FIELD POPULATION INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR MOLECULAR MONITORING OF RESISTANCE DEVELOPMENT IN INSECTS IN THE FIELD.

Cornell University, Ithaca NY

Investigators