Bt technology in an insect-resistance management programme

September 2019

Magda du Toit, Corporate Engagement and Communications Manager SA, Bayer. Send an email to magda.dutoit@bayer.com

The use of Bt technology (Yieldgard^®) in crops provides effective control against insects in maize and forms a modern, environmentally friendly basis for integrated pest control. Bt technology has played a major role in controlling stalk borers in South Africa the past 20 years and the use of this technology has largely eliminated the excessive use of more dangerous pesticides.

An insect-resistance management programme is crucial in integrated pest management. Such a management programme consists of the following components:

• Knowledge of pest biology and ecology.
• A record-keeping system of insecticides used in a field.
• Refuge areas where the susceptible insects can breed and thrive.
• Monitoring, recording and reporting of insects that may be resistant.
• The application of integrated pest management practices.
• Communication and training.

Part of insect-resistance management is stewardship, which means that users use the technology in such a way that it can be passed on to the future and the next-generation users in a sustainable way. 

The planting of refuge areas forms part of the insect-resistance management programme and stewardship. The Bayer Technology User Guide (TUG) provides a concise source of technical information about Bayer’s current portfolio of technology products and sets forth requirements and recommendations or Best Management Practices (BMP) for the use of these products.

WHAT IS A REFUGE AREA?
A refuge area is a section of the farm where only non-Bt maize is planted. Here, the stalk borers are never exposed to Bt technology. Selection pressure for Bt resistance is therefore insignificant and the individual stalk borers found in a refuge area are almost all susceptible to the control offered by the Bt technology. Its purpose is to provide a population of susceptible moths that can mate with the tolerant moths that survived on the YieldGard^® maize cotton. This prevents the surviving moths from being able to mate with each other and that the offspring of the moths will be tolerant. 

A key aspect of the successful implementation of a refuge area and an insect-resistance management programme, is the ongoing monitoring of stalk borer populations in the YieldGard^® planting so that timely intervention can occur and insecticide can be applied as soon as it appears that the stalk borer populations are not adequately controlled. 

OPTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR REFUGE AREAS FOR MAIZE
Option A: Planting a 5% area with non-Bt maize that is not treated with an insecticide. 
Option B: Planting a 20% area with non-Bt maize that may be sprayed with a non-Bt containing insecticide/biopesticide. 

The non-Bt maize, i.e. the refuge area must:

• Have a similar maturity as the YieldGard^® maize.
• Be planted within seven days from planting the YieldGard^® maize.
• Be planted on the same farm and under the same growing conditions applicable for the YieldGard^® maize, e.g. under irrigation.
• Every grower must plant his own refuge maize.
• A refuge strip area must be at least six rows wide and positioned so that some refuge areas are planted at the outside borders of the YieldGard^® maize.
• The mixing of Bt maize seed and non-Bt maize seed is not allowed.
• No Bt plant may be situated more than 400 m away from a refuge maize plant. 

Planting a refuge area calls for careful planning and guidelines, as set out in the technology agreement or available from your nearest seed representative, must be strictly adhered to. For more information, contact your Bayer representative or customercare.sa@bayer.com or www.dekalb.co.za.

Publication: September 2019

Section: Pula/Imvula