Whitefly Trap-cum-Death Sink Cotton  for the Control of Viral Diseases in Crops

The technology opens a new vista of controlling viral diseases in crops without pesticides and genetic manipulation.

Viral diseases are a serious problem in several crops of agriculture, horticulture, and ornamental importance all over the world; especially in poor economies. Therefore, we have developed GM cotton (Event138NBRI) that attracts whiteflies and kills them. It expresses an insecticidal protein of 38 kDa of plant origin. The GM cotton also produces β-Caryophyllene and α-humulin in 2-3-fold higher amount in comparison to a normal cotton. These two molecules act as a signal for whitefly to identify the host plant for colonization. Due to their continuous synthesis and release, GM cotton attracts whitefly from neighbourhood. The insecticidal protein produced in GM cotton affects the physiology of whitefly adversely viz; poor metabolization of food, loss of glucose in excreta, excess feeding and excretion, low ATP, deposition of wax on legs etc. Gluey leaf surface, waxy legs and low biological energy restrict whiteflies from taking a flight and infest alternative plants. This feature makes GM cotton as an excellent trap-cum-death sink for whitefly. The trap function increases with the number of whiteflies feeding on GM cotton.

• The trap potential of GM cotton was evaluated by planting it as a border crop around tomato and papaya. Trap showed more than 95% control on viral disease in a popular variety of tomato (Kashi Aman, tested in the year 2018-19 and 2019-20). Tomato production was approx. 1.8-fold higher in comparison to unprotected tomato.
• There is no competitive technology available in world as of now.
• Trap cotton has a potential to provide defence to a variety of vegetable and horticultural crops prone to viral diseases at a negligible cost.
• It can be easily propagated through its seed and used as bio-pesticide by planting it as a trap crop along with target "cash crops".