Effects of Cry34/35Ab1 corn on the survival and development of western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera
2013
Rudeen, Melissa L | Gassmann, Aaron J
BACKGROUND: The western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, is a major agricultural pest that is managed with transgenic corn, Zea mays L., expressing genes from Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt). The effects of Bt corn producing Cry34/35Ab1 (event DAS‐59122–7) and entomopathogens on the survival and development of larval D. v. virgifera were examined in laboratory, field and greenhouse experiments. RESULTS: Larvae preferred non‐Bt over Bt corn in a laboratory experiment, and there was higher recovery from non‐Bt corn than from Bt corn in a field experiment. In a greenhouse study, survival at 17 days did not differ significantly among non‐Bt corn, Bt corn and a blend of Bt and non‐Bt corn, but development was delayed on Bt corn. Older larvae fed non‐Bt corn had lower survival when entomopathogenic nematodes were added, but no other effects of pathogen were detected. CONCLUSION: Bt corn producing Cry34/35Ab1 delayed larval development of D. v. virgifera and deterred feeding. In a mixture of Bt and non‐Bt corn, larval development and survival were similar to non‐Bt corn alone, suggesting that non‐Bt plants in a blended refuge or a pure stand may produce a similar number of adult insects, and that timing of adult emergence may also be similar. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by National Agricultural Library