Field performance of 'Bt' transgenic crops: A review

Genetically modified crops have been wildly cultivated in all over the world since the commercialization of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) transgenic cotton in 1996. Some review papers have been summarized the benefit from the Bt transgenic crops and its ecological effects, but fewer of them focused on the agronomic and physiological performance comparison between Bt-transgenic crops with their non-Bt transgenic counterparts. Here this review summarizes the researches on the field performance of Bt transgenic crops relative to their non-Bt counterparts by focusing on differences in agronomic traits and Bt protein content, and the effect of abiotic stresses on the performance of Bt transgenic crops. Furthermore, we discussed the physiological mechanisms underlying the variation of Bt protein content at different growth stages, or due to various environmental factors. In the end, crop management practices for maintaining stable Bt protein content and efficient control of pests were discussed.

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