African caterpillars resistant to GM maize
Thursday, September 19, 2013 - 14:31
in Biology & Nature
Like many other transgenic crops, Bt maize synthesises its own pesticide: a toxic protein produced in its leaves and stems, which kills pests in a matter of days. Perfect, except when insect populations develop resistance to the toxin. To date, management strategies implemented to delay the evolution of resistance have been successful. Notwithstanding the success of these strategies, scientists have now revealed that a major pest of maize, the moth Busseola fusca, has developed an unusual defense mechanism against Bt toxin in South Africa.