Genetically modified moths only sire defective daughters

Scientists in Britain say they’ve developed a method of genetically modifying and controlling an invasive species of moth that causes critical pest injury to cabbages, kale, canola and different comparable crops worldwide. Shelton and colleagues found that in just a few generations, the engineered moths mating with the pest females led to a rapid decline of the pests.

This is the diamondback moth which feeds on cabbage, broccoli, and other cruciferous vegetables around the globe.

The technique could one day offer farmers pest control methods that are nontoxic and pesticide-free, the researchers say.

These studies include field cage tests this summer, with plans for small-scale field releases in future.

Will Oxitec’s GM moths be finally used in the United Kingdom? Since the gene is only carried by the target specie, there is no adverse effect on other insects.

(Phys.org)-A team of researchers at British company Oxitec has developed a genetic approach to controlling diamondback moth caterpillars and report that trials in greenhouse conditions has gone so well that they are ready to conduct tests in the wild. Because the self-limiting gene is non-toxic, birds and animals that eat the moths are not harmed.

Co-author Tony Shelton, professor of entomology at Cornell University, USA, and an expert on IPM, said he hoped the new technology could be used as a part of more agro-ecological farming systems, including organic production.

Besides from being toxic, pesticides are becoming non-viable as an option for dealing with diamondback moths. They discovered that the GE males kept pest populations in check and also delayed the buildup of resistance to the Bt broccoli.

The technique involves producing female offspring that don’t survive and reproduce.

“This means the crop will already be damaged by the time the adult numbers are reduced and it will also be contaminated by large numbers of dead GM larvae”.

“We don’t know if this is going to be safe for humans or wildlife”, Wallace added, “because the necessary tests have not been done, but it is unlikely to be popular with farmers or consumers”. “This might conceivably favour the spread of some cruciferous weeds, hence the need for proper environmental risk assessment”.

“So from that perspective there is in fact no need to “contain” them at all, rather the goal of the netted enclosures is for scientific design – so they will be effectively contained for that reason”. This moth is not sufficiently controlled by natural enemies or other integrated pest management practices, so growers throughout the world typically spray their crops many times with insecticides.