Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Biological Control of Pests Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #328851
Title: Integration of biological control and transgenic insect protection for mitigation of mycotoxins in corn

Author
item Weaver, Mark
item Abbas, Hamed
item BREWER, MICHAEL - TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE
item PRUETER, LUKE - TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE
item Little, Nathan

Submitted to: Crop Protection
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/20/2017
Publication Date: 3/27/2017
Citation: Weaver, M.A., Abbas, H.K., Brewer, M.J., Prueter, L.S., Little, N. 2017. Integration of biological control and transgenic insect protection for mitigation of mycotoxins in corn. Crop Protection Journal. 98:108-115.

Interpretive Summary: We conducted seven field trials over two years to test the hypothesis that transgenic insect protection and biological control could be integrated to prevent mycotoxin contamination of corn. One genetically modified corn hybrid was nearly 100 percent free from corn earworm damage and generally had less than half as much contamination from fumonisin compared to a related hybrid that lacked trangenic insect protection. This insect protection, however, did not significantly prevent aflatoxin contamination. Soil application of biocontrol strains of Aspergillus flavus significantly reduced aflatoxin concentrations in corn. One biocontrol strain of A. flavus was especially effective and reduced aflatoxin contamination by about 90 percent over the seven field trials. There was no significant interaction between the insect protection and biocontrol treatments. Although no synergies were detected, the reduction of mycotoxins by both strategies supports application of both strategies in tandem. Economic factors external to the cost of the technologies will be a major determinant if the mycotoxin mitigation attained by use of these technologies will have a positive economic benefit.

Technical Abstract: Biological control is known to be effective in reducing aflatoxin contamination of corn and some transgenic corn hybrids incur greatly reduced damage from corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea). We conducted seven field trials over two years to test the hypothesis that transgenic insect protection and biological control could be integrated to prevent mycotoxin contamination of corn. Corn hybrid N78N-3111, expressing the highest degree of transgenic insect protection, was nearly 100 percent free from corn earworm damage and generally had less than half as much contamination from fumonisin compared to N78N-GT, a near isogenic corn hybrid without insect protection. This insect protection, however, did not significantly prevent aflatoxin contamination. Soil application of non-aflatoxigenic, biocontrol strains of Aspergillus flavus significantly reduced aflatoxin concentrations in corn. Biocontrol strain 21882 of A. flavus was especially effective and reduced aflatoxin contamination by about 90 percent over the seven field trials. There was no significant interaction between the insect protection and biocontrol treatments. Although no synergies were detected, the reduction of mycotoxins by both strategies supports application of both strategies in tandem. Economic factors external to the cost of the technologies will be a major determinant if the mycotoxin mitigation attained by use of these technologies will have a positive economic benefit.