India: Bt Cotton Benefits Short-lived

31-fold resistance to the toxin “cry1ac” within six generations

Financial Express (India) 14feb04

NEW DELHI: There is some bad news for Indian farmers who have started growing a type of genetically modified cotton containing the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) gene. The Bt gene produces a toxin called “cry1ac” that kills the bollworms - the biggest enemy of cotton.

But a study just released by entomologists at Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi has cast doubts on the long-term benefits of Bt cotton.

It has found that the protection afforded by Bt gene is at best for six years.

The study by K Chandrasekar and GT Gujar has found that the bollworm develops “31-fold resistance to the toxin “cry1ac” within six generations.”

-PTI

source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=52355 14feb04