Location: Plant Genetics Research
2019 Annual Report
Accomplishments
1. Susceptibility restored for Bt-resistant rootworm. The western corn rootworm has evolved resistance to nearly all management tactics targeting it, including Bt corn. Using rootworm strains resistant and susceptible to Bt, ARS researchers in Columbia, Missouri, evaluated ribonucleic acid produced after each were fed Bt corn or non-Bt corn. Several target genes that were differently expressed between resistant and susceptible rootworm strains were evaluated further by producing double stranded ribonucleic acid to knockdown the target genes. Transcripts of all four genes were significantly knocked down in both rootworm strains. Finally, resistant and susceptible larvae were exposed to Bt toxin in presence or absence of double stranded ribonucleic acid. The double stranded ribonucleic acid of one of the genes restored significant susceptibility to the resistant rootworm strain while susceptible rootworms maintained full susceptibility after exposure. This is the first-time susceptibility to Bt has been restored after knocking down a resistance gene and could be applied by expressing the double stranded ribonucleic acid in corn along with Bt or by better understanding resistance for future management tools.
Review Publications
Zhao, Z., Miehls, L.M., Hibbard, B.E., Ji, T., Elsik, C., Shelby, K. 2019. Differential gene expression in response to eCry3.1Ab ingestion in an unselected and eCry3.1Ab-selected western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) population. Scientific Reports. 9:4896. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-41067-7.
Man, H.P., Hibbard, B.E., Lapointe, S.L., Niedz, R.P., French, B.W., Pereira, A.E., Finke, D.L., Shelby, K., Coudron, T.A. 2019. Multidimensional approach to formulating a specialized diet for northern corn rootworm larvae. Scientific Reports. 9:3709. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-39709-x.
Pereira, A.E., Coudron, T.A., Shelby, K., French, B.W., Bernkalu, E.J., Bjostad, L.B., Hibbard, B.E. 2019. Comparative susceptibility of western corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) neonates to selected insecticides and Bt proteins in the presence and absence of feeding stimulants. Journal of Economic Entomology. 112(2):842-851. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toy415.
Guo, T., Yu, X., Li, X., Zhang, H., Zhu, C., Flint-Garcia, S.A., McMullen, M.D., Holland, J.B., Szalma, S.J., Wisser, R., Yu, J. 2019. Optimal designs for genomic selection in hybrid crops. Molecular Plant. 12(3):390-401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molp.2018.12.022.
Mutiga, S.K., Chepkwony, N., Hoekenga, O.A., Flint-Garcia, S.A., Nelson, R.J. 2019. The role of ear environment in postharvest susceptibility of maize to toxigenic Aspergillus flavus. Plant Breeding. 138(1):38-50. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbr.12672.
Glowinski, A., Flint-Garcia, S.A. 2018. Germplasm resources for mapping quantitative traits in maize. In: Bennetzen, J., Flint-Garcia, S., Hirsch, C., Tuberosa, R.(eds). The Maize Genome. Springer International Publishing AG. Cham, Switzerland. p.143-159.
Geisert, R.W., Ludwick, D.C., Hibbard, B.E. 2019. Effects of cold storage on nondiapausing eggs of the western corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 112(2):708-711. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toy405.
Guyer, A., Hibbard, B.E., Holzkamper, A., Erb, M., Robert, C.A. 2018. Influence of drought on plant performance through changes in belowground tritrophic interactions. Ecology and Evolution. 8:6756-6765. http://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4183.
Hiltpold, I., Hibbard, B.E. 2018. Indirect root defenses cause induced fitness costs in Bt-resistant western corn rootworm. Journal of Economic Entomology. 111(5):2349-2358. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toy220.
Bernklau, E.J., Hibbard, B.E., Bjostad, L.B. 2018. Sugar preferences of western corn rootworm larvae in a feeding stimulant blend. Journal of Applied Entomology. 142(10):947-958. https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.12540.
Meihls, L., Huynh, M.P., Ludwick, D.C., Coudron, T.A., French, B.W., Shelby, K., Hitchon, A.J., Smith, J.L., Schaafsma, A.W., Pereira, A.E., Hibbard, B.E. 2018. Comparison of six artificial diets for western corn rootworm bioassays and rearing. Journal of Economic Entomology. 111(6):2727-2733. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toy268.
Jaffuel, G., Imperiali, N., Shelby, K., Campos-Herrera, R., Geisert, R.W., Maurhofer, M., Loper, J.E., Keel, C., Turlings, T.C., Hibbard, B.E. 2019. Protecting maize from rootworm damage with the combined application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Pseudomonas bacteria and entomopathogenic nematodes. Scientific Reports. 9:3127. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-39753-7.
Huynh, M.P., Bernklau, E.J., Coudron, T.A., Shelby, K., Bjostad, L.B., Hibbard, B.E. 2019. Characterization of corn root factors to improve artificial diet for western corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) larvae. Journal of Insect Science. 19(2):1-8. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iez030.
Geisert, R.W., Cheruiyot, D.J., Hibbard, B.E., Shapiro Ilan, D.I., Shelby, K., Coudron, T.A. 2018. Comparative assessment of four steinernematidae and three heterorhabditidae species for infectivity of larval diabrotica virgifera virgifera. Journal of Economic Entomology. 111(2):542-548. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/tox372.
Bernklau, E.J., Hibbard, B.E., Bjostad, L.B. 2018. Repellent effects of methyl anthranilate on western corn rootworm lLarvae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in soil bioassays. Journal of Economic Entomology. 112(2):683-690. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toy346.
Vanous, A., Gardner, C.A., Blanco, M., Martin-Schwarze, A., Wang, J., Li, X., Lipka, A.E., Flint Garcia, S.A., Bohn, M., Edwards, J.W., Lübberstedt, T. 2018. Stability analysis of kernel quality traits in exotic-derived doubled haploid maize lines. The Plant Genome. 12(1). https://doi.org/10.3835/plantgenome2017.12.0114.
Rathnayake, K.N., Nelson, S.K., Seeve, C.M., Oliver, M.J., Koster, K. 2018. Acclimation and endogenous abscisic acid in the moss Physcomitrella patens during acquisition of desiccation tolerance. Physiologia Plantarum. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.12892.
Yobi, A., Batushansky, A., Oliver, M.J., Angelovici, R. 2019. Adaptive responses of amino acid metabolism to the combination of desiccation and low nitrogen availability in Sporobolus stapfianus. Planta. 249(5):1535-1549. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-019-03105-6.
Alkhalifah, N., Campbell, D., Falcon, C., Gardiner, J.M., Miller, N., Romay, M., Walls, R., Walton, R., Yeh, C., Bohn, M., Bubert, J., Buckler Iv, E.S., Ciampitti, I., Flint Garcia, S.A., Gore, M., Graham, C., Hirsch, C., Holland, J.B., Hooker, D., Kaeppler, S., Knoll, J.E., Lauter, N.C., Lee, E., Lorenz, A., Lynch, J., Moose, S., Murray, S., Nelson, R., Rocheford, T., Rodriguez, O., Schnable, J., Scully, B.T., Smith, M., Springer, N., Thomison, P., Tuinstra, M., Wisser, R., Xu, W., Ertl, D., Schnable, P., De Leon, N., Spalding, E., Edwards, J.W., Lawrence-Dill, C. 2018. Maize genomes to fields: 2014 and 2015 field season genotype, phenotype, environment, and inbred ear image datasets. BMC Research Notes. 11:452. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-018-3508-1.
