Economic Welfare Change Attributable to Biological Control of Lepidopteran Cereal Stemborer Pests in East and Southern Africa: Cases of Maize and Sorghum in Kenya, Mozambique and Zambia

This study adopted the economic surplus model to evaluate the impact of the biological control program (BC), implemented by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), on cereal crops production in Kenya, Mozambique and Zambia. The BC was implemented in East and Southern Africa between 1993 and 2008, with the aim of helping small scale farmers to reduce cereal yield losses due to stem-borers and improve their well-being. Findings show that BC-intervention substantially contributes to consumer and producer welfare in the three countries. The net present value of $US 271.76 million, the attractive Internal Rate of Return of 67%, as well as the estimated Benefit Cost Ration of 33.47, imply the efficiency of investment in BC-program. Moreover, 0.35%, 0.25% and 0.20% of poor are yearly lifted out of poverty respectively in Kenya, Mozambique and Zambia. These findings underscore the need for increased investment in BC in the sub-region

Data from: Genetic hitchhiking and resistance evolution to transgenic Bt toxins: insights from the African stalk borer Busseola fusca (Noctuidae)

Since transgenic crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins were first released, resistance evolution leading to failure in control of pests populations has been observed in a number of species. Field resistance of the moth Busseola fusca was acknowledged 8 years after Bt maize was introduced in South Africa. Since then, field resistance of this corn borer has been observed at several locations, raising questions about the nature, distribution and dynamics of the resistance trait. Using genetic markers, our study identified four outlier loci clearly associated with resistance. In addition, genetic structure at neutral loci reflected extensive gene flow among populations. A realistically parameterised model suggests that resistance could travel in space at speed of several kilometres a year. Markers at outlier loci delineated a geographic region associated with resistance spread. This was an area of approximately 100 km radius, including the location where resistance was first reported. Controlled crosses corroborated these findings and showed significant differences of progeny survival on Bt plants depending on the origin of the resistant parent. Last, our study suggests diverse resistance mutations, which would explain the widespread occurrence of resistant larvae in Bt fields across the main area of maize production in South Africa

non-outlier-loci

The columns of the table correspond to the non-outlier loci presented in Campagne et al. 2016 (Heredity). Rows, correspond to individuals (described in the file sample-info.txt)

sample information

'Field.ID' corresponds to the field numbers/IDs in which a larvae was sampled; 'Type.of.field', describes whether the field sampled was Bt maize (i.e., Bt) or a non-Bt crop (maize or sorghum, i.e., nBt)

AFLP outlier loci

The columns of the table correspond to the outlier loci presented in Campagne et al. 2016 (Heredity). Rows, correspond to individuals (described in the file sample-info.txt)