Bayer Crop Science Australia logo Crop Science Australia logo
Search
Search
Search
Bollgard 3 logo

An easier way to grow cotton

Bollgard 3 logo

Roundup Ready Flex® cotton

Bollgard® 3 is a third-generation insect control trait technology that provides three different modes of action to target Helicoverpa species – the main pest affecting cotton grown in Australia. The evolution of Bollgard technology over the last 25+ years has resulted in a significant reduction in insecticide applications in Australian cotton crops. This not only provides a more sustainable solution for cotton growers, but provides added protection against crop damage and yield loss.

  • At a glance

  • Crop Suitability

  • Calculator

  • Resources

Product Type
Biotechnology Traits

What is Bollgard 3

Bollgard 3 is a biotechnology trait that reduces the need to spray for Helicoverpa spp. the main cotton pest for Australian growers.

Bollgard 3 contains three proteins, Cry1Ac, Cry2AB and Vip3A, each 'killing' larvae in a different way.

Having three different active proteins increases the sustainability of the technology as it is difficult for helicoverpa to develop resistance to more than one of the Bt Proteins.

Bollgard 3 plays a critical role in protecting the technology, ensuring that it will continue to perform the way that growers need and expect for many years to come

Bollgard timeline

The addition of a third protein, Vip3A, reinforces the Bt proteins found in Bollgard II® – Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab. Three proteins will increase the longevity of the technology as each provides a different mode of action or ‘kill’ Helicoverpa spp. larvae in a different way.

Application Notes
Cotton Approved under DIR066 and DIR124 for use in Australia


BOLLGARD 3 REFUGE CALCULATOR

REFUGE OPTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR BOLLGARD 3

Refuge crop Unsprayed conventional cotton Pigeon pea Sprayed conventional cotton
Minimum refuge required (%) 5.0 2.5 100.0
Maximum Bollgard 3 area available for planting (ha) {{ B8 = area*0.95 | number: 1 }} {{ C8 = area*0.975 | number: 1 }} {{ D8 = area*0.50 | number: 1 }}
Seed quantity of Bollgard 3 required (kg) {{ (seedingRate*B8)*plantingConfig/100 | number: 1 }} N/A {{ (D8*seedingRate)*plantingConfig/100 | number: 1 }}
Refuge area required (ha) {{ B13 = area-B8 | number: 1 }} {{ C13 = area-C8 | number: 1 }} {{ D13 = D8 | number: 1 }}

Bollgard 3 Resistance Management plan (RMP)

pdf
4640 KB
  • Technical Guide
Download

Bollgard 3 Resistance Management plan (RMP)

Download

Bollgard 3 Resistance Management Plan (RMP) for Northern Australia

pdf
4332 KB
  • Technical Guide
Download

Bollgard 3 Resistance Management Plan (RMP) for Northern Australia

Download

Bollgard 3 benefits

Each of the three proteins in Bollgard 3 - Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab and Vip3A - kills the larvae in a different way. This allows growers to effectively control H. armigera and H. puntigera for most of the cotton season.

Bollgard 3 significantly reduces the need for application of broad-spectrum pesticides, giving other insects, including beneficial species, the chance to develop.

In comparison with conventional cotton plants, Bollgard 3 plants have a significantly higher first-position retention on the bottom five fruiting branches. Loss of first-position fruit can result in a significant yield penalty.

Featured videos

Video Thumbnail
Video Thumbnail

Resistance monitoring at the Bayer Crop Science Toowoomba research centre

Led by Dr Kristen Knight and her research team, our cotton research centre in Toowoomba runs a resistance monitoring program for Bollgard 3 cotton. Learn more about what the team is working on in this video.
Video Thumbnail
Video Thumbnail

Controlling volunteer and ratoon cotton

Control of volunteer and ratoon cotton is a key part of the Bollgard 3 Resistance Management Plan (RMP) and is also important for disease prevention. Sharna Holman, of the CottonInfo team and Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, explains.

You may also be interested in

Roundup Ready Flex® Cotton

Roundup Ready Flex cotton varieties enable growers to use registered glyphosate herbicides over-the-top of the crop, promoting superior yield potential through unmatched in-crop weed control.
Learn more

Cotton Choices®

Cotton Choices gives Bollgard® 3 and Roundup Ready Flex® growers flexibility to choose the best payment option for their technology fees, to suit the financial and production risks of their farm
Learn more
X

Sign up to receive information about products, news, services and events

Thank you for your submission.

Sending failed, a problem occured.

Related Products

Roundup Ready PL Herbicide with Plantshield technology
Movento® 240 SC Insecticide product
Gaucho

Ask us a question

If you are a farmer, agronomist or distributor in Australia with a specific product query you can contact our technical helpline. Call 1800 804 479 and speak with our technical enquiries team, or ask us a question below.

*Mandatory fields

Thank you for your enquiry! We will get back to you within the business day.
An error has occurred processing your enquiry. Please try again. If error persists please contact us by phone on 1800 804 479