Transgenic radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) plants containing a Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin gene, crylAc, were produced by means of biolistic transformation of embryogenic tissue. Using the selectable marker gene nptII and corresponding geneticin selection, 20 independent transgenic lines from five genotypes were established. Over 200 plants regenerated from ten transgenic lines were successfully transferred to soil. The integration and expression of the introduced genes in transgenic tissue and/or plants were confirmed by PCR, Southern hybridisation and neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPTII) and Bt ELISA assays. Bioassays with larvae of the painted apple moth, Teia anartoides, demonstrated that transgenic plants displayed variable levels of resistance to insect damage, with one transgenic line being highly resistant to feeding damage.

Essigella californica (Monterey pine aphid) populations were monitored in the Bay of Plenty forests of Rotoehu and Kaingaroa over two years to determine what influence E californica has on the health of Pinus radiata and to identify any associated predators and parasites Populations were sampled throughout the canopy height of forests stands at three altitudinal ranges (lt;300 m 300600 m and gt;600 m above sea level) and three age classes (110 1120 and 2130 years old) Findings clearly show that although E californica populations vary markedly from one year to the next highest populations occurred in low altitude midaged P radiata in autumn Even at relatively high population levels in midaged stands E californica did not appear to have any visible effect on tree health The monitoring programme has shown that E californica cannot be considered a pest of P radiata in New Zealand

Between January 2002 and May 2004 a series of aerially applied sprays of Btk (Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaski) were made to areas of Auckland and Hamilton New Zealand The purpose of the sprays was to eradicate the painted apple moth (PAM; Teia anartoides) from Auckland and the Asian gypsy moth (AGM; Lymantria dispar) from Hamilton In both operations bioassays were used to test the effectiveness and consistency of spray applications Bioassays were undertaken by placing foliage samples (Acacia mearnsii) at a selection of locations in the spray zone next to cards on which spray deposition was measured After spraying PAM larvae were placed on each plant and mortality recorded Results indicated that there was a strong relationship between droplet density on cards and PAM mortality on plants Once this relationship was determined further bioassays were of limited additional value to simply measuring deposition on cards

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