Cotton Bollworm Resistance to the Bt Cotton and Management Strategy in Xinjiang, China

Xinjiang is one of the most important cotton production regions worldwide, where at present more than 11% of the global total yield of cotton lint was produced. Bt cotton was widely introduced to Xinjiang in year 2000, and now more than half of the total acreage of cotton plantations was a transgenic cotton. Compared to other cotton regions of the world, in Xinjiang only a few investigations on the resistance monitoring and management have been done because of policy constraints. Moreover, factors responsible for the cause and rapid increase of the resistance of the cotton bollworm (Helicovetpa armigera (Hubner)) population to the Bt cotton, such as lacking of standardization of seed supply, reasonable resistance management method and overall resistance monitoring have become serious threats to sustainable use of this transgenic cotton. Focusing on such problems, the present status of the research on resistance of the cotton bollworm to Bt cotton in the Xinjiang region has been evaluated. Some strategies for providing scientific basis for reasonable using of the transgenic crops and integrated management against cotton bollworms are recommended.