Ryan Kurtz

Insect Resistance Management Specialist

Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc.

3054 E. Cornwallis Rd.

Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

Syngenta has submitted an application to the United States Environmental Protection Agency for a commercial registration for VipCot(tm) cotton, a transgenic insect resistant cotton that expresses Vip3A and Cry1Ab insecticidal proteins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Both proteins are highly effective against a range of lepidopteran pests

including two key cotton pests, Helicoverpa zea, cotton bollworm; and Heliothis virescens, tobacco budworm. To investigate the role of VipCot(tm) cotton in delaying the development of resistance in these key pests to Bt proteins, Syngenta has performed studies to determine the dose of proteins expressed in VipCot(tm) and evaluate the potential for cross-resistance between the component proteins. Data from those studies and the results of simulation computer modeling indicate that VipCot(tm) cotton should be very durable under the currently mandated high dose plus refuge insect resistance management strategy.