Assessment of cone-damaging insects in a Swedish spruce seed orchard and the efficacy of large-scale application of Bacillus thuringiensis variety aizawai x kurstaki against lepidopterans

In a 2-yr study, we investigated the efficacy of large-scale application of the biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis variety aizawai x kurstaki (Btk) in a Swedish spruce, Picea abies L. (Karst.), seed orchard for controlling damage caused by four lepidopteran species: Dioryctria abietella Den et. Schiff. (Pyralidae), Eupithecia abietaria G?tze, E. analoga Djakonov (Geometridae), and Cydia strobilella (L.) (Tortricidae). The frequencies of these species, and Strobilomyia anthracina Czerny (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), were regularly monitored throughout the vegetative growth season to map their temporal distribution patterns and to quantify occurrences of species that may have been present in the cones at some stage during the season but migrated before the final sampling. This investigation revealed that E. abietaria occurred in similar numbers to D. abietella and has probably been overlooked as a potentially serious pest in spruce seed orchards in Sweden. To determine the number, timing, and rate of Btk required to control the lepidopterans, spraying was conducted at different phases of flowering and cone development, and three rates of Btk were applied. The Btk treatment reduced cone damage caused by D. abietella and Eupithecia spp. by one-half in 2002, a year with an intermediate number of cones, but the effect was weaker in 2003, when the cone crop was low. Damage caused by C. strobilella was not affected by the treatment. The different rates of Btk application did not affect the results, and repeated spraying seemed to be effective during 2002 but not in 2003.     

The effect of spruce cone insects on seed production in Switzerland

Abstract: In 1989 and 1990, spruce cones were harvested at 29 sites distributed over the five main geographic regions of Switzerland, i.e. Jura, Central Plateau, North, Central and South Alps. The presence of insects and the species-specific consumption of seeds was determined for each cone by examination of the median longitudinal section. Seven seed-feeding species ( Assara terebrella , Cydia strobilella , Dioryctria abietella , Eupithecia abietaria , Megastigmus strobilobius , Plemeliella abietina , Strobilomyia anthracina ) and the spruce cone gall midge Kaltenbachiola strobi were found in the samples. The proportions of infested cones ranged from 36 to 100%. The regions did not show significant differences in terms of infestation rates, whereas differences between sites within the regions were highly significant. Seed loss ranged from 2 to 100%, its geographical distribution exhibiting a similar pattern to the infestation rates. Considering the number of infested cones, C. strobilella was the most abundant species, followed by K. strobi and P. abietina . Cones infested by conospermatophagous species ( C. strobilella , D. abietella , E. abietaria ) showed higher seed losses than those infested by spermatophages ( M. strobilobius , P. abietina ). Due to the ubiquitous occurrence of C. strobilella , its high infestation rates and the resulting seed losses caused by its offspring, this species has to be considered as the most important insect seed predator in Switzerland. A multiple linear regression analysis was carried out for each region to simultaneously explore the impact of site and tree variables as well as the effect of insect attack on the yield of viable seeds. The results indicate that site and tree conditions contributed more to the variability of seed yield than insect presence in a cone. The model predicted significant effects of insect attack mainly for cones with total seed numbers that were higher than the average.     

Population dynamics of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Bt cotton in the Yangtze River Valley of China

Genetically modified cotton that produces a crystalline protein from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Berliner) (Bt) has been widely deployed to manage lepidopteran insect pests in cotton growing areas worldwide. However, susceptibility of different insect species to Bt protein varies, which may affect lepidopteran pest populations in the field. Studies on effects of two transgenic cotton lines (BG1560 and GK19) carrying a Cry1A gene on common cutworm Spodoptera litura F. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), were conducted during 2002-2005 in the cotton planting region of the Yangtze River valley of China. Results showed that common cutworm larvae had low susceptibility to Bt cotton. There was no significant difference in larval population densities in conventional and Bt cotton fields. However, the larval populations of the insect on conventional plants treated with chemical insecticides for control of target pest of Bt cotton were significantly lower than that in Bt cotton fields. These results indicated that the common cutworm was the potential to become a major and alarming pest in Bt cotton fields, and therefore efforts to develop an effective alternative management strategy are needed.     

Performance of the fir coneworm Dioryctria abietivorella (Grote) as affected by host species and presence or absence of seed cones

1 Larval performance of Dioryctria abietivorella (Grote) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) was compared when insects were reared in white spruce, black spruce and Jack pine seed orchards. For each species, half of the insects developed in the presence of cones, while the other half was maintained on branches without cones. 2 Significantly faster development rates were observed on spruce species when compared to Jack pine. Significant differences in survival were also recorded between the different feeding treatments. 3 The presence of seed cones on spruce species significantly increased insect mean weight compared with branches without cones, but no significant differences were noticed between the different tree species with cones. 4 White spruce is the most suitable host tree for fir coneworm feeding and the availability of seed cones plays an important role in determining D. abietivorella larval performance.     

Enhanced toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki and aizawai to black cutworm larvae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) with Bacillus sp. NFD2 and Pseudomonas sp. FNFD1

Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki and aizawai are important control agents for lepidopteran pests. Bioassays were designed to test B. t. kurstaki and aizawai against second- and-fourth instar black cutworm larvae with and without Bacillus sp. NFD2 and Pseudomonas sp. FNFD1 bacteria. B. thuringiensis subsp. aizawai (XenTari) was more toxic to both second- and fourth-instar black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), larvae than B. t. kurstaki (DiPel) at 7 d after treatment (DAT). When DiPel was combined with NFD2 or FNFD1 versus second instars, the LC50s were 5.0X and 4.7X lower, respectively, than with DiPel alone. DiPel combined with both NFD2 and FNFD1 versus second instars resulted in an LC50 value 7.7X lower than with DiPel alone. When XenTari was combined with NFD2 or FNFD1 versus second instars, the LC50s were 5.2X and 3.8X lower, respectively, than with XenTari alone. XenTari combined with both NFD2 and FNFD1 versus second instars resulted in an LC50 9.7X lower than with XenTari alone. When DiPel was combined with NFD2 or FNFD1 versus fourth instars, the LC50s were 4.4X and 3.4X lower, respectively, than with DiPel alone. DiPel combined with both NFD2 and FNFD1 versus fourth instars resulted in an LC50 5.0X lower than with DiPel alone. When XenTari was combined with NFD2 or FNFD1 versus fourth instars, the LC50s were 5.7X and 3.3X lower, respectively, than with XenTari alone. XenTari combined with both NFD2 and FNFD1 versus fourth instars resulted in an LC50 6.7X lower than with XenTari alone.     

Evaluating new insecticides for the control of Helicoverpa spp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on capsicum and zucchini

Abstract  The efficacy of insecticides in controlling Helicoverpa spp., predominantly H. armigera (Hübner), on capsicum and zucchini was tested in small plot trials. Indoxacarb, methoxyfenozide, spinosad, emamectin benzoate and novaluron provided control, as measured by the percentage of damaged fruit, equal to or better than standard treatments of methomyl or methomyl alternated with methamidophos on capsicum. The Helicoverpa nucleopolyhedrovirus gave control equivalent to the standard treatment, as did Bacillus thuringiensis aizawai , but B. thuringiensis kurstaki was ineffective. Helicoverpa armigera larvae were present in zucchini flowers but did little damage to the fruit. None of the insecticides significantly reduced the percentage of damaged zucchini fruit compared with the untreated control. Bifenthrin, spinosad, emamectin benzoate and methoxyfenozide were effective in controlling larvae in flowers, while methomyl, B. thuringiensis aizawai , B. thuringiensis kurstaki and novaluron were not effective. Data indicated that all the insecticides effectively controlled larvae of Diaphania indica (Saunders), cucumber moth, in the zucchini flowers. There has been a limited range of insecticides available to manage Helicoverpa spp. in these vegetable crops, but these trials demonstrate the effectiveness of a number of newer insecticides that could be used and that would be compatible with integrated pest management programs in the crops.     

Discrimination among pinyon pine trees by Clark's Nutcrackers: effects of cone crop size and cone characters

Summary The influences of Colorado pinyon pine (Pinus edulis) cone crop size, cone and seed weight, cone length, number of seeds per cone, number of viable seeds, and percent viable seeds on the foraging behavior of avian seed dispersal agents were examined in field and laboratory settings. In the field, there was a significant positive relationship between cone number per tree and both the absolute number of cones and the percentage of the cone crop from which seeds were harvested. Cone weight and the number of viable seeds were also significantly related to seed harvest intensity. Laboratory experiments examined the relationship between crop size and cone characters on seed harvest by 18 Clark's Nutcrackers (Nucifraga columbiana). Nutcrackers were offered a choice of two tree types: one with 20 cones attached, and another with 10 cones attached. Significantly more birds chose to remove seeds first from the tree with 20 cones than the tree with 10 cones. In timed trials, they also harvested seeds from significantly more cones on the tree with the higher cone density. In the laboratory, cones chosen for seed removal by the nutcrackers had significantly more viable seeds, more seeds, and were longer compared to cones that were not chosen. Such discriminatory foraging behavior may increase avian foraging efficiency and result in differential reproductive success of pinyon pines. This behavior may therefore influence the evolution of pinyon pine reproductive traits.     

Characterization of the Bacillus thuringiensis strains isolated from Taiwan

Over 100 Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) isolates which produced phase bright inclusions have been isolated from soil samples from different areas in Taiwan. Three types of crystal proteins were visualized by phase contrast microscopy. Among these isolates, only 14 different types of plasmid profiles have been observed. They all possess a variety of plasmids ranging from a few kb to around 250 kb in size. With respect to the crystal protein profiles, the plasmid profiles, and the shapes of crystal proteins, we found that the majority of our isolates (87%) were different from most of the known Bt strains. Our other two types of isolates (10 and 3%) resembled Bt var. kurstaki HD1 and Bt var. israelensis, respectively. Most of our isolates were active against Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera) and Aedes aegypti (Diptera). Most interestingly, two of our isolates, Nos. 82 and 96, were found highly toxic to Heliothis virescens, even compared with the standard strain, Bt var. kurstaki HD1. Using insecticidal crystal protein (ICP) gene probe from Bt var. aizawai HD-133 to probe the total DNA of our isolates, we observed that at least one plasmid from each of the tested strains reacted with the probe. A 10 kb plasmid from some of our isolates hybridized with the probe. This probably is the first evidence demonstrating that the ICP gene sequence can be found in a low molecular weight plasmid.     

Effectiveness in the field of Bt rice lines against target pests under various cultural regimes

China has a long history of rice cultivation, incorporating several cultural practices known to influence damage by insect pests. Transgenic Bt rice expresses lepidopteran‐specific insecticidal proteins that primarily target lepidopteran insect pests. However, the effectiveness of Bt rice against target insect pests under different cultural regimes has not been evaluated. In this study, the effectiveness of Bt rice lines against rice leaffolder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), and striped stem borer, Chilo suppressalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), was evaluated under various transplanting densities, crop establishment methods, and planting times. The results showed that Bt rice lines (T2A‐1 and T1C‐19, containing Cry2A and Cry1C, respectively) could prevent damage by these target pests under a range of cultural practices. Injury by C. medinalis or C. suppressalis on rice did not differ with the rice lines under various transplanting densities. Direct‐seeded non‐Bt rice MH63 suffered heavier injury by C. medinalis and C. suppressalis than it did with transplanting, whereas injury to the two Bt rice lines did not differ with planting methods. Planting time significantly affected injury by C. medinalis or C. suppressalis on non‐Bt rice, whereas injury to Bt rice lines did not differ with planting time. These results suggest that transplanting density, planting method, and planting time did not significantly affect the resistance of two Bt rice lines, due to their high insecticidal activity against target insects.     

Insect pests of Norway spruce cones: incidences and altitude preferences with emphasis on Cydia strobilella (L.)

Pest species infesting spruce cones were identified from 109 locations approved for the collection of seed material in the Czech Republic. Four (occasionally five) cones were studied from each location, and 448 cones were examined in total. Each cone was assessed for external damage and was then cut open along the spine. The predominant pest species, Cydia strobilella, was detected in 65% of the cones, while the next most common species, Dioryctria abietella, was detected in 13% of the cones. Ernobius abietis, Eupithecia sp., and Thekopsora areolata were less numerous. Kaltenbachiola strobi and Megastigmus sp. were recorded sporadically. Most cones (68%) were infested with only one species. The maximum number of C. strobilella larvae detected in one cone was 13. Cone damage resulting from C. strobilella declined markedly with increasing elevation. Thus, cone infestation by C. strobilella was greater in those forest vegetation zones located in lowlands and uplands rather than in highlands and at lower mountain elevations. The number of cones without damage tended to increase with elevation, but infestation by D. abietella was unrelated to elevation. In some cases, C. strobilella damage to cones was severe. External markings on the cone (resin and deformation) cannot by themselves serve as reliable criteria for predicting C. strobilella infestation, although cones with such signs should be preferentially assessed when seed material is inspected.     

Impact of Leptoglossus occidentalis (Hemiptera: Coreidae) on Douglas-fir seed production

We investigated the effect of feeding by the western conifer-seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann, on seed production in developing cones of coastal Douglas-fir, Pseudostuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, with respect to seed bug life stage and sex (nymphs, adult females, and adult males) and timing of feeding (early, mid-, and late season cone development). Feeding by females on caged cones for a 2-wk period during late season cone development reduced the proportion of full seeds in cones by approximately 70% compared with caged control cones. There was no significant difference among nymphs, adult females, and adult males with respect to the proportion of empty or partially fed-upon seeds produced during the same feeding period. Feeding by nymphs for 2 wk early in the season resulted in a threefold increase in the number of unextractable seeds fused to cones compared with the control. Weight measurements of harvested seeds indicated that radiography is an accurate tool to distinguish among Douglas-fir seeds that have sustained light, moderate, or severe damage. Determining the full impact of L. occidentalis on conifer seed production will require the development of a reliable method to distinguish between naturally aborted seeds and seeds emptied through feeding by seed bugs.     

濒危植物梵净山冷杉的球果与种子性状研究北大核心CSCD

梵净山冷杉(Abies fanjingshanensis)为国家一级保护濒危植物。为了揭示梵净山冷杉球果发育和成熟过程的性状特征,以确定成熟球果的适宜采种期。该研究对梵净山冷杉自然生长区内成年结实母树的球果进行跟踪观测和定期采集,通过物理解剖和形态学参数测定,比较分析不同采种期梵净山冷杉的球果、种鳞和种子的性状差异。结果显示:(1)梵净山冷杉的球果每年7月中旬开始形成,10月中旬开始成熟,发育早期至发育后期球果的长度和宽度显著增加,发育后期至成熟期形态和颜色均无明显变化。(2)成熟球果平均长、宽、鲜重、干重和相对含水量分别为7.18 cm、3.84 cm、36.98 g、20.33 g和45.06%。(3)成熟球果的平均种鳞层数为30.76层,种鳞总数为250.67片,平均出种量436.67粒,平均种子饱满率82.49%。(4)成熟球果基部、中部、上部的种子性状不同,且球果中部的种子性状参数最大,饱满率最高,种子平均长、宽、厚分别为9.14、2.30、2.37 mm,千粒重11.44 g。研究表明,梵净山冷杉的球果从形成至成熟过程约3个月,成熟球果的最佳采种时间为10月下旬,发育后期和成熟球果的形态和颜色差异不明显,不能以颜色和形态作为球果成熟的判定依据;种鳞与球果的发育和成熟同步,球果中部的种鳞能够完全发育,且形状参数最大,孕育的种子最饱满;梵净山冷杉成熟球果出种量大、饱满率高,但是种子小、重量轻。     

太白红杉种实数量特征

太白红杉 (Larixchinensis) 是仅分布于我国陕西秦岭境内的国家二级保护植物, 研究其生殖规律将有助于加深对其濒危原因的认识。该文用单因素方差分析的方法研究了太白红杉种实数量特征, 并用Pearson相关系数检验了不同环境条件下的变化及其与环境因子和植株生长状况的关系, 结果表明种实数量特征在不同环境条件下差异明显, 太白山国家森林公园单株种子产量最高 ;长安光头山平均每株产生的种子总重、球果总重和球果平均重量最重, 平均每株球果数目和每球果种子数也是最多。多重比较表明牛背梁种群太白红杉种子千粒重最重。其中球果的种子数在小种群中较多 ;每株的种子总重量、球果平均重和球果总重在小种群中较重。太白红杉种实数量特征与海拔、坡度和坡向呈负相关, 与植株年龄呈正相关, 球果的种子数目与年均温呈正相关 (p <0.0 5 ), 而与一月均温呈负相关 (p <0.0 5 ) 。种子大小与种子总数呈弱正相关, 种子大小和数目间不存在权衡 (Trade-ff) 。     

云南铁杉开花结实特性及其与环境因子的关系

以进入生殖阶段的8个天然云南铁杉(Tsuga dumosa)种群为对象, 对开花、结实植株(24个样株)的生长量进行测定, 并采用标准枝法对不同树冠层次与方位的开花及结实数量进行调查, 研究了开花结实规律和对其有主要影响的环境因子。结果表明: 云南铁杉雌、雄球花比为1:2, 雌球花转化为果实的数量仅占28%, 胸径为7 cm (树龄约25年)的植株最早进入开花结实阶段, 胸径为25-30 cm的植株开花结实量最高, 胸径为89 cm (树龄约200年)的植株开花结实最晚; 树冠不同层次与方位上开花结实数量有着明显的差异; 相关性分析得出植株胸径与开花结实量极显著相关(p < 0.01)、与冠幅显著相关, 生境中林分郁闭度与开花结实量、株高、胸径之间均呈负相关关系, 其中与结实量的相关性达显著水平; 主成分分析得出植株开花及结实主要受到温度因子、水分因子、光照因子协同作用的影响。云南铁杉雌雄球花的比例偏雄性、结实周期长、结实方式不经济、灾害性天气的影响是造成该种群逐渐走向濒危的主要原因。因此, 采用人工促进天然更新、建立母树林和种子园以提高种子的质量, 对云南铁杉种群的恢复和保护具有重要意义。     

Linking patterns and processes of species diversification in the cone flies Strobilomyia (Diptera: Anthomyiidae)

Phytophagous insects provide useful models for the study of ecological speciation. Much attention has been paid to host shifts, whereas situations where closely related lineages of insects use the same plant during different time periods have been relatively neglected in previous studies of insect diversification. Flies of the genus Strobilomyia are major pests of conifers in Eurasia and North America. They are specialized feeders in cones and seeds of Abies (fir), Larix (larch) ,and Picea (spruce). This close association is accompanied by a large number of sympatric Strobilomyia species coexisting within each tree genus. We constructed a molecular phylogeny with a 1320 base-pair fragment of mitochondrial DNA that demonstrated contrasting patterns of speciation in larch cone flies, as opposed to spruce and fir cone flies; this despite their comparable geographic distributions and similar resource quality of the host. Species diversity is the highest on larch, and speciation is primarily driven by within-host phenological shifts, followed by allopatric speciation during geographical expansion. By contrast, fewer species exploit spruce and fir, and within-host phenological shifts did not occur. This study illustrates within-host adaptive radiation through phenological shifts, a neglected mode of sympatric speciation.     

Cono- and seminiphagous insects of Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) Karst. and their parasitoids in lower and upper montane zone of the Tatra National Park in Poland

Abstract: A study of the insects inhabiting of cones of Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) Karst. in the Tatra National Park was conducted during 1987–92. As a result of breeding and analyses of the cones collected from trees at various altitudes above sea level, 53 746 specimens of cono- and seminiphagous insects were collected. Interior damage to cones and the losses of spruce seeds caused by pests were measured, with regard both to the variable cone crop abundance of spruce and to different altitudes above sea level. The role of parasitoids in limiting the numbers of some cono- and seminiphagous insects was also estimated.     

EFFECTS OF CONE COLOR DIMORPHISM ON REPRODUCTIVE OUTPUT OF WHITE FIR GROWING ALONG ELEVATIONAL GRADIENTS

White fir can produce cones that are either green or purple, and the color is genetically determined. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of elevation and cone color on the cone and seed characters of this species. We collected cones from trees along two elevational gradients, Red Mountain Pass (1981 and 1983) and Cucharas Pass (1983). Over 600 cones were measured for length, diameter, number of viable seeds, mass of five viable seeds, and percent successful seed set. There was a strong overall effect due to elevation, although the Cucharas and Red Mtn. locations showed somewhat different effects on the reproductive characters. Seed mass decreased with elevation in all three samples. There was significant interaction between cone color and elevation for both 1983 samples, suggesting the presence of genotype-environment interaction. A large difference was seen between the Red Mtn. and Cucharas locations, and the cone colors behaved differently at the two locations. The consistently large differences between the seed characters of green and purple cones suggested that cone color, which is presumably determined by a single gene, may profoundly affect the reproductive potential of individual trees. This appears to be an example of influential coloration in plants which is not associated with pollination or dispersal.     

Reproductive biology of Abies cephalonica Loudon in Mount Aenos National Park, Cephalonia, Greece

The reproductive biology of the endemic to Greece Abies cephalonica Loudon, including the phenology of the reproductive life cycle, cone production in relation to plant age and the required seed germination conditions, was studied. All individuals growing within 20 permanent plots of 100 m² each established in 11 different locations covering the entire strictly protected area of Mount Aenos National Park (Cephalonia) were monitored over a period of 4 years. The cones are formed on the upper part of the previous year’s branches, mostly at the upper crown half of the reproductive individuals (over 53 years old). Female flowers are pollinated in spring and cone maturation lasts until the beginning of autumn, when seed dispersal occurs. The annual production of cones per individual varied significantly, revealing masting behavior for this tree. This behavior was also expressed in the number of trees producing cones, as well as the percentage of sound seeds per cone. A significant difference in the mass and the length of the cones between the years of low and high cone production was observed, being higher in the years of massive cone production. Similar germination percentages were observed in full darkness or under “canopy light” and “sun light”, provided that the seeds were previously stratified for 6 weeks. It is concluded that A. cephalonica exhibits plasticity expressed in its reproductive behavior for alternating years of high to low cone production and in its seed germination for an array of habitat light conditions.     

Effects of pollen supply and quality on seed formation and maturation in Pinus densiflora

To understand the detailed mechanisms underlying variations in seed productivity per cone, it is important to examine simultaneously the effects of two pollination mode components (pollen supply and quality) on two seed production processes (seed formation and maturation). We conducted artificial pollination experiments with four pollination treatments (selfing, polycross, no-pollination and open-pollination treatments) in each of two vertical crown layers (upper and lower) for 19 Pinus densiflora ramets. We measured formed seeds as a proportion of ovules (P(Form)), and filled seeds as a proportion of formed seeds (P(Fill)) per cone in each treatment and layer, and inferred the relative influences of pollination mode and resource availability on seed productivity. In the no-pollination treatment, no seeds were formed in any cones of all five ramets. The Generalized Linear Model showed that there were no significant differences in P(Form) both between selfing and polycross treatments and upper and lower layers. The mean P(Fill) values in the selfing treatment were significantly lower than those in the polycross treatment in both layers. The mean P(Fill)s of the two layers did not differ significantly in the selfing treatment, but did in the open-pollination and polycross treatments. The results show that pollen supply affects mainly seed formation, whereas pollen quality affects mainly seed maturation. Resource availability also affects mainly seed maturation, if pollen quality is higher than a certain threshold.     

Effect of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis rice lines on mortality and feeding behavior of rice stem borers (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Ten transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis Bt rice, Oryza sativa L., lines with different Bt genes (two Cry1Ac lines, three Cry2A lines, and five Cry9C lines) derived from the same variety Minghui 63 were evaluated in both the laboratory and the field. Bioassays were conducted by using the first instars of two main rice lepidopteran insect species: yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) and Asiatic rice borer, Chilo suppressalis (Walker). All transgenic lines exhibited high toxicity to these two rice borers. Field evaluation results also showed that all transgenic lines were highly insect resistant with both natural infestation and manual infestation of the neonate larvae of S. incertulas compared with the nontransformed Minghui63. Bt protein concentrations in leaves of 10 transgenic rice lines were estimated by the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The cry9C gene had the highest expression level, next was cry2A gene, and the cry1Ac gene expressed at the lowest level. The feeding behavior of 7-d-old Asiatic rice borer to three classes of Bt transgenic rice lines also was detected by using rice culm cuttings. The results showed that 7-d-old larvae of Asiatic rice borer have the capacity to distinguish Bt and non-Bt culm cuttings and preferentially fed on non-Bt cuttings. When only Bt culm cuttings with three classes of different Bt proteins (CrylAc, Cry2A, and Cry9C) were fed, significant distribution difference of 7-d-old Asiatic rice borer in culm cuttings of different Bt proteins also was found. In the current study, we evaluate different Bt genes in the same rice variety in both the laboratory and the field, and also tested feeding behavior of rice insect to these Bt rice. These data are valuable for the further development of two-toxin Bt rice and establishment of appropriate insect resistance management in the future.