Select the drawbacks of planting transgenic crops on a pest management plan. (choose all that apply.)

• A. An increase in pesticide usage
• B. The emergence of secondary pest problem
• C. Repeated use of the same pesticide in an area
• D. Weeds that develop resistance to the same pesticide as the crop

Answer: (A)

Planting transgenic crops within an IPM plan can lower damage from the targeted pest, but a major drawback you can encounter is that pests may develop resistance to the trait. When resistance evolves, the level of control provided by the transgenic crop declines, and growers often have to rely more on chemical controls than they would have otherwise. That can lead to an overall increase in pesticide usage to try to keep pest populations in check, which undermines one of the main goals of using transgenic crops in pest management.

Secondary pest problems, repeated use of the same pesticide, or weeds that resist the same herbicide are real concerns in pest and weed management, but they depend on specific crop traits, pest complexes, and management practices. The scenario most consistently linked to the broader drawback of relying on a transgenic trait in pest management is the potential for increased pesticide use due to resistance.