Effectiveness of Bollgard II cotton varieties against foliage and fruit feeding caterpillars in Arkansas.

The Bollgard II technology has been recently developed by Monsanto. Since two Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins are present in Bollgard II cottons, improved activity of these cotton varieties is expected against the primary and occasional worm pests of cotton. Yields and agronomic characteristics of Bollgard varieties have not been as consistent as hoped since their release in 1996. Early availability of information on the yield and agronomic characteristics of Bollgard II varieties may help avoid some of the problems that accompanied their release.