Current control methods for diamondback moth and other brassica insect pests and the prospects for improved management with lepidopteran-resistant Bt vegetable brassicas in Asia and Africa

Agricultural production: assessment of the potential use of Cas9-mediated gene drive systems for agricultural pest control

“…Management of insecticide resistance is only possible while the resistance allele frequencies remain low in target populations (Alstad and Andow 1995). DBM is prone to develop insecticide resistance, and most existing active ingredients are no longer useful against this pest (Grzywacz et al 2010). In many cases, the genetic basis of resistance to these active ingredients has been determined (You et al 2013).…”

“…Although DBM cannot withstand cold winters, it is still a major, if sporadic, pest in temperate geographic areas because of its ability to migrate hundreds of miles, and in some cases over a thousand miles (Chapman et al 2002;Fu et al 2014). Broccoli has been genetically engineered to produce toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt toxins) that are effective against many DBM populations, but commercialization does not appear to be likely in the near future (Grzywacz et al 2010). It is also important to note that the DBM was the first insect found to have resistance to Bt toxins.…”

“…Because each generation can be two-weeks to a month and each female can lay a total of approximately 150 eggs, the caterpillar densities on a crop can increase rapidly. Although the DBM has many biological control agents, the typical response to an infestation is application of synthetic insecticides, often applied more than once a week (Grzywacz et al 2010). The DBM is notorious for evolving resistance to synthetic insecticides, with loss of control often emerging within a few years of commercialization of a new class of insecticide (Wang and Wu 2012).…”

Effect of Insecticides and Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) Genotype on a Predator and Parasitoid and Implications for the Evolution of Insecticide Resistance

“…Use of insecticides remains the main control strategy for P. xylostella because insecticides are easy to apply and often are cost-effective (Talekar and Shelton 1993). Unfortunately, some P. xylostella populations have evolved resistance to almost every insecticide class applied in the Þeld, including pyrethroids, carbamates, organophosphates, spinosyns, avermectins, neonicotinoids, pyrazoles, and oxadiazines (Zhao et al 2006, Grzywacz et al 2010.…”

“…The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is the most destructive insect pest of brassica crops in many parts of the world (Talekar and Shelton 1993, Grzywacz et al 2010). This insect is now present wherever brassica crops are grown and is considered the most widely distributed of all Lepidoptera (Shelton 2004).…”