TransgenicBt-producingBrassica napus:Plutella xylostellaselection pressure and fitness of weedy relatives

• DOI: 10.1051/ebr:2003016
• Publication Date: 2008-09-12T09:44:23Z
• Authors: Peter Mason; Lorraine Braun; Suzanne I. Warwick; Bin Zhu; C. Neal Stewart Jr.
• Keywords: Brassica rapa; Selfing

Release of transgenic insect-resistant crops creates the potential not only for insect pest to evolve resistance but escape transgenes that may confer novel or enhanced fitness-related traits through hybridization with their wild relatives. The differential response diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) populations in eastern and western Canada Bt-producing (GT) Brassica napus fitness GT B. weedy rapa x hybrid (F1, BC1, BC2) were studied. Comparative bioassays using neonates 4th instars showed hybrids are lethal larvae from both populations. No measurable plant advantage (reproductive dry weight) was observed (crop) at low pressure (1 larva per leaf). At high densities (>10 leaf), vegetative weight significantly different non-GT napus, whereas reproductive proportion material higher napus. Establishment Bt trait also increase its competitive under pressure.