ABSTRACT

Approximately eighty-one percent of Mississippi's 1.18 million acres of cotton was planted to Bt-transgenic varieties in 2002. A field survey was conducted during late season to compare performance of Bt and non-Bt varieties. Statewide, Bt fields sustained less caterpillar induced boll damage, 2.56% vs. 4.32%, and received significantly fewer foliar insecticide treatments for control of bollworm and tobacco budworm, 1.17 vs. 3.35. Differences in number of bollworm/tobacco budworm sprays applied to Bt and non-Bt were greater in the Delta region, 1.96 vs. 5.32, than in the Hill region, 0.65 vs. 2.07.