The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis.
The genetically modified eggplant known as ‘Bt brinjal’ provides dramatic control of its most serious insect pest in Asia and eliminates the need for insecticides, according to results just published by scientists in the prestigious open-access online journal PLoS ONE.
. . . .
“We measured the expression of the insecticidal Bt protein and counted the number of pests on each plant, concluding that the Bt eggplant conferred near-total control of the most serious pest of eggplant in Asia, the fruit and shoot borer (FSB) caterpillar,” said Desiree Hautea . . . the lead author on the paper.
Eggplant is one of the most important vegetable crops in the Philippines, but currently the only way to control FSB is by the use of broad-spectrum insecticides. “Research has shown that farmers spray between 20-70 times over the growing season in the Philippines for control of FSB,” said Anthony Shelton . . .one of the authors on the paper. “With the pest control offered by Bt eggplant, these sprays can be eliminated.”
Read full, original post: Bt eggplant close to 100% effective in controlling pests
