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Research Project: Genetic and Physiological Mechanisms Underlying Complex Agronomic Traits in Grain Crops

Location: Plant Genetics Research

Title: Maize inbred Mp708 is highly susceptible to western corn rootworm, diabrotica virgifera virgifera (coleoptera: chrysomelidae), in field and greenhouse assays

Author
item Pereira, Adriano
item GEISERT, RYAN - University Of Missouri
item Hibbard, Bruce

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/27/2022
Publication Date: 12/8/2022
Citation: Pereira, A.E., Geisert, R.W., Hibbard, B.E. 2022. Maize inbred Mp708 is highly susceptible to western corn rootworm, diabrotica virgifera virgifera (coleoptera: chrysomelidae), in field and greenhouse assays. Journal of Insect Science. 22(6). Article 8. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieac067.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieac067

Interpretive Summary: The western corn rootworm cost growers over $2 billion a year due to yield loss and control costs. This pest has evolved resistance to nearly all control management practices, so new avenues for management are needed. Corn breeding program for natural resistance against WCR larvae can help prevent larval damage to the roots. In this work, we evaluated root damage and root regrowth of eight corn lines in field assays in each of three different locations. Despite previous work suggesting resistance, we conclude that the inbred ‘MP708’ is highly susceptible to the WCR larvae based on root damage performed in field and greenhouse plant assays. This work documents the importance of resistant and susceptible controls in plant resistance research.

Technical Abstract: The western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica vifgirera virgifera LeConte, (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) causes significant economic damage in corn production each year. Resistance to insecticides and transgenic corn with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), Berliner toxins have been reported throughout the United States Corn Belt. Corn breeding programs for natural resistance against WCR larvae could potentially assist in rootworm management. Root damage and root regrowth of eight corn lines were evaluated in field assays at three different locations. Results indicated the inbred ‘Mp708’ had the greatest root damage and was significantly greater than damage for the susceptible control, B37×H84. In greenhouse assays, we evaluated four of these lines plus a hybrid expressing the mCry3A Bt toxin for damage. The results indicated that Mp708 had significantly higher root damage when compared to ‘CRW3(S1)C6’ and ‘MIR604’. Despite previous work suggesting otherwise, we conclude that Mp708 is highly susceptible to the WCR larvae based on root damage in field and greenhouse plant assays.