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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #95030

Title: OVIPOSITION BY EUROPEAN CORN BORER (LEPIDOPTERA: CRAMBIDAE) IN RESPONSE TO VARIOUS TRANSGENIC CORN EVENTS

Author
item Hellmich Ii, Richard
item HIGGINS, LAURA - PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNTNL
item WITKOWSKI, JOHN - NORTHEAST RESEARCH & EXTN
item CAMPBELL, JOHN - PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNTNL
item Lewis, Leslie

Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/17/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Several types of genetically-engineered (transgenic) plants have been produced that kill insects when they feed. Scientists and crop producers are excited about these plants because they offer an effective way to kill pests without conventional chemical insecticides. Reduced chemical usage translates into less surface and ground water contamination. Dramatic control of pests on these plants, however, has many scientists concerned about pests becoming resistant to these plants. Most scientists favor resistance management programs that include non-transgenic plants that produce susceptible insects. Such plants are called refuge. The premise is that susceptible insects from refuge will mate with and genetically dilute insects that are resistant. This paper focuses on an important question concerning European corn borer and genetically-engineered corn. Do moths prefer to lay eggs on normal corn or transgenic corn? Preference for or against transgenic corn has important implications for how much refuge corn that should be planted. Results suggest none of the commercially available types of transgenic corn influence moth egg laying. Results also suggest that moths will lay similar numbers of eggs on normal corn injured from a previous generation of European corn borers compared with non-injured normal and non-injured transgenic plants. This information will be useful for stakeholders (scientists, companies that produce these plants, producers, and consumers) interested in prolonging the value of transgenic plants.

Technical Abstract: Oviposition preference by European corn borers (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), for or against transgenic corn would influence amounts of refuge required for resistance management. The objective of this research was to learn if various Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn transgenic events influence ECB oviposition. Results from 3 independent studies, comprising 4 4cage experiments with vegetative stage corn, 3 cage experiments with reproductive stage corn, and 2 field experiments with natural ECB are reported. In each case, Bt corn hybrids and, in 2 experiments inbred lines, are compared with their near isogenic hybrids/inbreds primarily by counting numbers of egg masses on each plant type. More extensive comparisons were made in 3 of the experiments by determining besides number, size and locations of egg masses on the corn hybrids. All commercially available events (currently 5) were evaluated, and 4 experimental events. The oviposition studies confirm previous results that suggest moth oviposition and in particular ECB oviposition, is not influenced by Bt proteins. This study goes a step further and suggests that none of the commercially available or experimental corn events tested in these experiments have modified any characteristics of the corn plant that influence ECB oviposition. Another concern related to moth oviposition and Bt corn hybrids was allayed. None of the ECB injury sustained by isoline corn during the vegetative stage was severe enough to influence ECB ovipositon during the corn reproductive stage when compared with Bt corn and non- injured isoline corn. Suggestions are made for future studies that use natural ECB rather than ECB in cages. The possibility of modifying plants to deter moth oviposition is considered.