Performance of Transgenic Cotton Cultivars (Bt) in Relation to the Occurrence of Pests in Brazil

The adoption of Bt cotton cultivars increased in the last harvest, due to the increased availability of cultivars with new protein combinations and the occurrence of lepidopteran pests such as Helicoverpa armigera. The objective of this work was to verify comparatively the occurrence of lepidopteran pests and non-target pests of the Bt technology in three Bt cultivars currently planted in Brazil: Bolgard II (Cry1Ac + Cry2Ab2), Widestrike (Cry1Ac + Cry1F) and Twinlink (Cry1Ab + Cry2Ae) and non-Bt cultivar FMT701. Cotton Bt cultivars Bollgard II, Widestrike and Twinlink were efficient in protecting the plants against H. armigera attack.