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Subject: Re: Organic sweet corn
From: jellybean stonerfish <stonerfish@geocities.com>
Organization:
Date: Fri, 01 Feb 02 08:30:13
Message-ID: <MOD$020131.22736@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$020119.6436@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$020120.11130@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



In article <MOD$020120.11130@rec.gardens.ecosystems>, Kelly Houston
wrote:

> >Shows what I know. the only time I ever heard of bt was regarding the GMO
> >issues.
>
> Just for clarification and information:
>
> Bt stands for Baccillus thurensis which is a bacteria which infects certain
> target pests. There is one subspecies that targets mosquitos, one that
> targets
> gnats and flies, and another that targets the insect family Lepidopterae
> (butterflies and moths). GMO corn has a portion of the Bt genetic code which
> allows it to make the poison that the bacteria make that kills the bugs. Bugs
> that chew on the plant get poisoned. Bt as a spray actually infects the
> larvae
> that eat it: it has a relatively short life span so it is only effective for
> a
> specific amount of time. As an infective agent, it is somewhat specific in
> that it will infect only one genera of insects at a time. So Bt for
> Lepidopterae does not kill aphids, for example...or predatory wasps, or bees,
> or spiders, or other predatory critters. Bt for mosquitos does not kill
> dragonfly larvae, skimmers, or other aquatic life.
> Bt is a good biological control of many pests when used correctly and in
> conjuction with an IPM program.
>
> Kelly

Won't the insects develop an imunity to the gmo bt coded corn?

sf