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ARS Home » Plains Area » Brookings, South Dakota » Integrated Cropping Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #309302
Title: Susceptibility of Nebraska Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Populations to Bt Corn Events

Author
item WANGILA, DAVID - University Of Nebraska
item GASSMANN, AARON - Iowa State University
item PETZOLD-MAXWELL, JENNIFER - Wartburg College
item French, Bryan
item MEINKE, LANCE - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/22/2014
Publication Date: 2/4/2015
Citation: Wangila, D.S., Gassmann, A.J., Petzold-Maxwell, J.L., French, B.W., Meinke, L.J. 2015. Susceptibility of Nebraska Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Populations to Bt Corn Events. Journal of Economic Entomology. pp. 1-10. DOI:10.1093/jee/tou063. Available: http://jee.oxfordjournals.org/content/jee/early/2015/02/04/jee.tou063.full.pdf.

Interpretive Summary: Genetically modified Bt corn plants have been widely adopted by growers across the U.S. Corn Belt to manage the western corn rootworm in field corn. Because of severe root damage in some Nebraska cornfields after continuously planting of Bt corn, single plant bioassays were conducted in 2012 and 2013, to characterize the susceptibility of various Bt problem fields with respect to root damage and ability to control western corn rootworm populations with rootworm-active Bt proteins. Results indicate there are differences in susceptibility of Nebraska western corn rootworm populations to rootworm-active Bt traits. Western corn rootworm survival coupled with field histories collectively support the conclusion that a level of field resistance to Bt corn has evolved in some Nebraska populations in response to continuous planting of Bt corn. The potential implications of these results on current and future corn rootworm management strategies are discussed.

Technical Abstract: Transgenic plants have been widely adopted by growers to manage the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, in field corn. Because of reduced efficacy in some Nebraska fields after repeated use of Cry3Bb1 expressing hybrids, single plant bioassays were conducted in 2012 and 2013, to characterize the susceptibility of various Cry3Bb1 problem fields and control western corn rootworm populations to the rootworm-active proteins Cry3Bb1, mCry3A, and Cry34/35Ab1. Results demonstrate that there are heritable differences in susceptibility of Nebraska western corn rootworm populations to rootworm-active Bt traits. Proportional survival and corrected survival data coupled with field histories collectively support the conclusion that a level of field resistance to Cry3Bb1 has evolved in some Nebraska populations in response to selection pressure and that a possible cross resistance relationship exists between Cry3Bb1 and mCry3A. There was no apparent cross resistance relationship between Cry3Bb1 or mCry3A and Cry34/35Ab1. The potential implications of these results on current and future corn rootworm management strategies are discussed.