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Title: Stacked -gene hybrids were not found to be superior to glyphosate resistant or Non-GMO corn hybrids

Author
item Bruns, Herbert

Submitted to: Crop Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/18/2014
Publication Date: 11/14/2014
Citation: Bruns, H.A. 2014. Stacked -gene hybrids were not found to be superior to glyphosate resistant or Non-GMO corn hybrids. Crop Management. p. 1-5.

Interpretive Summary: Seed costs of modern corn hybrids genetically modified with multiple traits for insect and herbicide resistance “stacked-gene” are in excess of $100.00 US per acre. Scientists at the USDA-ARS Crop Production Systems Research Unit has determined yields and net returns per acre along with yield components for ten hybrids, four stacked-gene, four glyphosate resistant only, and two non-GMO, in a two year, furrow irrigated experiment at Stoneville, MS on a Tunica clay. Yields and net returns were greater for six hybrids in 2011 than 2012. Drought during May, 2012 likely have contributed to a lower stand (3500 plants per acre) than 2011 and to fewer kernels per plant (491 vs. 286 for 2011 and 2012 respectively) which reduced yields and net returns for those hybrids. The non-GMO hybrids had yields and net returns comparable to the stacked-gene hybrids in both years of the experiment. This study demonstrated that stacked-gene corn hybrids do not appear to be superior in yield to glyphosate resistant only or non-GMO hybrids under normal production practices in a humid sub-tropical environment such as the Mississippi Delta.

Technical Abstract: Seed costs of modern corn hybrids genetically modified with multiple traits for insect and herbicide resistance “stacked-gene” are in excess of $100.00 US per acre. Yields and net returns per acre along with yield component data were determined for ten hybrids, four stacked-gene, four glyphosate resistant only, and two non-GMO, in a two year, furrow irrigated experiment at Stoneville, MS on a Tunica clay (clayey over loamy, smectitic over missed, superactive, nonacid thermic Vertic Epiaquepts). Yields and net returns were greater for six hybrids in 2011 than 2012. Drought during May, 2012 likely have contributed to a lower stand (3500 plants per acre) than 2011 and to fewer kernels per plant (491 vs. 286 for 2011 and 2012 respectively) which reduced yields and net returns for those hybrids. The non-GMO hybrids had yields and net returns comparable to the stacked-gene hybrids in both years of the experiment. Stacked-gene corn hybrids do not appear to be superior in yield to glyphosate resistant only or non-GMO corn hybrids under normal production practices in a humid sub-tropical environment such as the Mississippi Delta.