Progress Report on the Transgenic Bt-cotton Research at KARl Mwea

Abstract

The collapse of cotton production from an all time high of 70,000 bales in 1985/86 to 20,000 bales by 2001 prompted the Government to institute measures to revitalize the industry. Poor agronomic practices, particularly pest control, contributed to the collapse of cotton production. Pest control and related activities take up about 32% of the production costs of cotton. The African bollworm is the most important pest of cotton in Kenya and alone can cause up to 100% yield loss, if unchecked. Other important pests include the cotton stainer (Oysdercus spp.), cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii), and cotton red spider mite (Tetranychus tera/ius). The introduction of transgenic Bt-cotton expressing Bt-toxins in cotton plants would greatly reduce the need for the application of broad-spectrum insecticides greatly cutting on the cost of pesticides hence increasing returns to the cotton producer. This would also minimize the negative effect of the insecticides on the natural enemies of cotton pests promoting their activity on cotton pests.