Bt cotton

Bt cotton is a genetically modified organism (GMO) cotton variety, which produces an insecticide to bollworm. It is produced by Monsanto.

Description

Strains of the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis produce over 200 different Bt toxins, each harmful to different insects. Most notably, Bt toxins are insecticidal to the larvae of moths and butterflies, beetles, cotton bollworms and ghtu flies but are harmless to other forms of life.^[1] The gene coding for Bt toxin has been inserted into cotton as a transgene, causing it to produce this natural insecticide in its tissues. In many regions, the main pests in commercial cotton are lepidopteran larvae, which are killed by the Bt protein in the genetically modified cotton they eat. This eliminates the need to use large amounts of broad-spectrum insecticides to kill lepidopteran pests (some of which have developed pyrethroid resistance). This spares natural insect predators in the farm ecology and further contributes to noninsecticide pest management.

Bt cotton is ineffective against many cotton pests such as plant bugs, stink bugs, and aphids; depending on circumstances it may be desirable to use insecticides in prevention. A 2006 study done by Cornell researchers, the Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy and the Chinese Academy of Science on Bt cotton farming in China found that after seven years these secondary pests that were normally controlled by pesticide had increased, necessitating the use of pesticides at similar levels to non-Bt cotton and causing less profit for farmers because of the extra expense of GM seeds.^[2]

Mechanism

Bt cotton was created through the addition of genes encoding toxin crystals in the Cry group of endotoxin.^[3] When insects attack and eat the cotton plant the Cry toxins are dissolved due to the high pH level of the insect's stomach. The dissolved and activated Cry molecules bond to cadherin-like proteins on cells comprising the brush border molecules.^[3] The epithelium of the brush border membranes separates the body cavity from the gut whilst allowing access for nutrients. The Cry toxin molecules attach themselves to specific locations on the cadherin-like proteins present on the epithelial cells of the midge and ion channels are formed which allow the flow of potassium.^[3] Regulation of potassium concentration is essential and, if left unchecked, causes death of cells. Due to the formation of Cry ion channels sufficient regulation of potassium ions is lost and results in the death of epithelial cells. The death of such cells creates gaps in the brush border membrane.

History

Bt cotton was first approved for field trials in the United States in 1993, and first approved commercial use in the United States in 1995.^[4] Bt cotton was approved by the Chinese government in 1997.^[5]

In 2002, a joint venture between Monsanto and Mahyco introduced Bt cotton to India.^[6]

In 2011, India grew the largest GM cotton crop at 10.6 million hectares. The U.S. GM cotton crop was 4.0 million hectares, the second largest area in the world, followed by China with 3.9 million hectares and Pakistan with 2.6 million hectares.^[7] By 2014, 96% of cotton grown in the United States was genetically modified^[8] and 95% of cotton grown in India was GM.^[9] India is the largest producer of cotton, and GM cotton, as of 2014.

Advantages

Bt cotton has several advantages over non Bt cotton. The important advantages of Bt cotton are briefly :

• Increases yield of cotton due to effective control of three types of bollworms, viz. American, Spotted and Pink bollworms.
• Insects belonged to Lepidoptera (Bollworms) are sensitive to crystalline endotoxic protein produced by Bt gene which in turn protects cotton from bollworms.
• Reduction in pesticide use in the cultivation of Bt cotton in which bollworms are major pests.
• Reduction in the cost of cultivation and lower farming risks.
• Reduction in environmental pollution by the use of insecticides rarely.
• Bt cotton exhibit genetic resistance or inbuilt resistance which is a permanent type of resistance and not affected by environmental factors. Thus protects crop from bollworms.
• Bt cotton is ecofriendly and does not have adverse effect on parasites, predators, beneficial insecticides and organisms present in soil.
• It promotes multiplication of parasites and predators which help in controlling the bollworms by feeding on larvae and eggs of bollworm.
• No health hazards due to rare use of insecticides (particularly who is engaged in spraying of insecticides).
• Bt cotton are early in maturing as compared to non Bt cotton.

The main selling points of Bt cotton are the reductions in pesticides to be sprayed on a crop and the ecological benefits which stem from that. China first planted Bt cotton in 1997 specifically in response to an outbreak of cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, that farmers were struggling to control with conventional pesticides.^[10] Similarly in India and the US, Bt cotton initially alleviated the issues with pests whilst increasing yields and delivering higher profits for farmers.^[11][12][13]

Studies showed that the lower levels of pesticide being sprayed on the cotton crops promoted biodiversity by allowing non-target species like ladybirds, lacewings and spiders to become more abundant.^[10] Likewise it was found that integrated pest management strategies (IPM) were becoming more effective due to the lower levels of pesticide encouraging the growth of natural enemy populations.^[10]

Disadvantages

Bt cotton has some limitations

• High cost of Bt cotton seeds as compared to non Bt cotton seeds.
• Effectiveness up to 120 days, after that the toxin producing efficiency of the Bt gene drastically reduces.
• Ineffective against sucking pests like jassids, aphids, whitefly etc.

In India

Bt cotton is supplied in India's Maharashtra state by the agri-biotechnology company Mahyco, which distributes it.^[14]

The use of Bt cotton in India has grown exponentially since its introduction in 2002.^[15] Recently India has become the number one global exporter of cotton and the second largest cotton producer in the world. India has bred Bt-cotton varieties such as Bikaneri Nerma and hybrids such as NHH-44.^[16]

Socio-economic surveys confirm that Bt cotton continues to deliver significant and multiple agronomic, economic, environmental and welfare benefits to Indian farmers and society including halved insecticide requirements and a doubling of yields.^[17]

India’s success has been subject to scrutiny. Monsanto's seeds are expensive and lose vigour after one generation, prompting the Indian Council of Agricultural Research to develop a cheaper Bt cotton variety with seeds that could be reused. The cotton incorporated the cry1Ac gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), making the cotton toxic to bollworms. This variety showed poor yield, was removed within a year, and contained a DNA sequence owned by Monsanto, prompting an investigation.^[18] In parts of India cases of acquired resistance against Bt cotton have occurred. Monsanto has admitted that the pink bollworm is resistant to first generation transgenic Bt cotton that expresses the single Bt gene (Cry1Ac).^[19]

The state of Maharashtra banned the sale and distribution of Bt cotton in 2012, to promote local Indian seeds, which demand less water, fertilizers and pesticide input,^[20] but lifted the ban in 2013.^[14]

Bt-resistant pests

After the introduction of Bt cotton in northern China, non-target pests such as mirid bugs (Heteroptera: Miridae) became more abundant, because less pesticides were sprayed.^[21] In 2013, a second issue being seen across the world, was the development of Bt resistant pests limiting the usefulness of Bt crops.^[22]

Main drivers for the widespread resistance in India and China included the high proportion of Bt cotton being planted, 90% and 95% respectively in 2011,^[10][23] and few refuge areas.^[13][24][25]

Refuge areas of non-Bt crops limit resistance development in targeted pests.^[24] The US Environmental Protection Agency requires farmers to have refuge areas of 20%-50% non-Bt crops within 0.8 km of their Bt fields.^[26] Such requirements were not seen in China, where instead farmers relied on natural refuge areas to decrease resistance.^[25]

In 2009, a novel solution to the resistance problem was trialed in Arizona, when sterile male pink bollworms (Pectinophora gossypiella) were released into populations of their wild Bt-resistant counterparts. The hypothesis was that sterile males mating with the few surviving females, who had developed resistance, would lead to a decrease in pests in the following generation. There was a dramatic reduction in pink bollworms, with only two pink bollworm larvae being found by the third year of the study.^[24]

Controversies

In India, Bt cotton has been enveloped in controversies^[27] due to its supposed links with seed monopolies and farmer suicides. The link between the introduction of Bt cotton to India and a surge in farmer suicides has been refuted by other studies,^[28] with decreased farmer suicides since Bt cotton was introduced.^[29] Bt cotton accounts for 93% of cotton grown in India.^[30]

In the USA

In Hawaii, growing GMO cotton has been prohibited since 2013.^[31] Hybridization with the wild cotton species Gossypium tomentosum may be possible. Transgenic cotton is also banned in some parts of Florida.

In Africa

Burkina Faso, Africa's top cotton producer, banned GM cotton in 2016, because of economic and quality concerns.^[32]

See also

• Bt brinjal
• Genetically modified food controversies

Notes and references