Inheritance of Resistance to Cry1A.105 in Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), is a target pest of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton and maize in North America. This pest has evolved resistance to both Bt crops in the United States, which is a significant threat to their sustainable use for H. zea control. Cry1A.105 is a Bt toxin commonly used in commercial transgenic maize hybrids to control above-ground caterpillar pests, such as H. zea. The aim of this study is to describe the inheritance of Cry1A.105 resistance in H. zea. Genetic-cross studies revealed that the resistance to Cry1A.105 is controlled by a single, autosomal, nonrecessive gene. Data generated from the study will be useful in resistance risk assessment and refining Bt resistance mitigation programs for H. zea control. ABSTRACT: Cry1A.105 is a bioengineered Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal protein consisting of three domains derived from Cry1Ac, Cry1Ab, and Cry1F. It is one of the two pyramided Bt toxins expressed in the MON 89034 event, a commonly planted Bt maize trait in the Americas. Recent studies have documented that field resistance of the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), to the Cry1A.105 toxin in maize plants has become widespread in the United States. To investigate the inheritance of resistance to Cry1A.105 in H. zea, two independent tests, each with various genetic crosses among susceptible and Cry1A.105-resistant populations, were performed. The responses of these susceptible, resistant, F(1), F(2), and backcrossed insect populations to Cry1A.105 were assayed using a diet overlay method. The bioassays showed that the resistance to Cry1A.105 in H. zea was inherited as a single, autosomal, nonrecessive gene. The nonrecessive nature of the resistance could be an important factor contributing to the widespread resistance of maize hybrids containing Cry1A.105 in the United States. The results indicate that resistance management strategies for Bt crops need to be refined to ensure that they are effective in delaying resistance evolution for nonrecessive resistance (nonhigh dose).