My BT cotton packet has some non-BT seed mixed in as refuge in bag. How does this actually help against pink bollworm?
How does refugia or refuge in bag (RIB) seed slow pink bollworm resistance (kapas)?
KKiran Patel7 महीने पहले · 226 व्यू
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🌾Farmer.in Krishi Teamविशेषज्ञ ✓7 महीने पहले
Refuge plants are non-BT cotton that let some pink bollworm survive without exposure to the BT toxin, so susceptible moths stay in the population and mate with any resistant survivors, slowing the build up of resistance. In refuge in bag (RIB) the company already mixes around 5 percent non-BT seed into the same packet, so you just sow the whole bag as is without sorting. Earlier the rule was a separate refuge block of non-BT cotton around the main field, which many farmers skipped, so RIB was introduced to make compliance automatic. Do not remove or discard the refuge plants even though they get more pest damage, because they protect the long term value of the BT technology. For current refuge norms confirm with the seed label and your state agriculture department.
JJasvant Rabari7 महीने पहले
A simple way I understood it is that the few non-BT plants keep some normal moths alive, and when those mate with any tough survivors the next generation stays killable by BT. That is why you should never pull out the more damaged plants thinking they are weak. Just sow the bag mixed as it comes.
SSahebrao Deshmukh6 महीने पहले
Here in Vidarbha the dealer explained that with RIB we do not have to sow a separate border row anymore, which nobody used to do properly. It saves effort and still gives the refuge benefit. The key is to not treat the refuge plants specially or remove them.
BBharat Solanki6 महीने पहले
When I first saw the slightly different looking plants in the field I thought the seed was impure and almost complained to the dealer. The dealer explained those are the refuge plants mixed in on purpose. So do not panic if a few plants look different or get more pest, that is the refuge doing its job.