Distribution of Heliothine complex in cotton/soybean landscapes

     In recent years cotton acres have declined substantially in Mississippi while corn and soybean acres have expanded. Recent increases in the price of soybeans are indicative of the growing demand and importance of the commodity. Additionally, the pest status of bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), has increased in the Mid-South. As a result, there is heightened interest from producers and industry in the Mid-South to have commercial access to transgenic soybean varieties that express the Bt toxins to assist management of lepidopteran pests. Bacillus thuringienses has been a tremendous resource in cotton and corn. The potential for resistance development by multiple insect species is a concern. Research is needed to determine if the introduction of Bt soybeans into the southern U.S. will present an unacceptable risk to the sustainability of other crops.