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Insect Protection Technologies for Corn Rootworm Management

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Objective

  • Research trials were conducted in 2013, 2014, and 2015 to evaluate corn rootworm protection efficacy of insect protection technologies available in Pioneer® brand corn products under various levels of corn rootworm feeding pressure.

Study Description

Years 2013,2014,2015
9 in 2013
  11 in 2014
  15 in 2015
Locations:   Research locations in Iowa, Ill., Ind., Minn., Neb., S. D., and Wis.
Plot Layout: Small research plots, 4 rows each
Replications: 3 per location
Hybrid Platforms: 4 or 5 per location
Insect Protection Technologies – Pioneer brand products:  
Qrome® products  
Optimum® AcreMax® XTreme (AMXT)  
Optimum® AcreMax® Xtra (AMX)  
Optimum® AcreMax® TRIsect® (AMT) with Poncho® 1250 + VOTiVO<>® insecticide  
Corn rootworm non-protected check (HX1, LL, RR2)
  • Evaluated corn rootworm feeding damage on 5 plants per plot
  • Samples did not exclude refuge plants
  • Corn rootworm feeding damage rated using the Iowa State 0-3 node injury score (Oleson et al., 2005)
  • Research locations were selected and managed specifically to create high corn rootworm pressure environments, with some sites utilizing trap crops and/or manual corn rootworm infestations

Site Characterization

  • Research locations were categorized as having low, moderate or high corn rootworm feeding pressure based on the average corn rootworm node injury in the corn rootworm non-protected check:

 

Low: 0 - 0.75
Moderate: 0.75 - 1.75
High: 1.75 - 3.00

Results

  • Across all 3 years of the study, a total of 14 locations had moderate to high corn rootworm pressure (0.75 - 3.00) The average corn rootworm node injury score of the corn rootworm non-protected check was 1.77 across these 14 locations (Figure 1).
Average CRW node injury by insect protection.

Figure 1. Average corn rootworm (CRW) node injury by insect protection technology at moderate and high CRW pressure locations, 2013-2015. N = 14 locations with ~1,000 observations/treatment.

  • All corn rootworm protection technologies had excellent corn rootworm protection efficacy, with average corn rootworm node injury scores significantly lower than the non-protected check, ranging from 0.22 to 0.38.

Reference

  • Oleson, J.D., Y. Park, T.M. Nowatzki, and J.J. Tollefson. 2005. Node-injury scale to evaluate root injury by corn rootworms (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) J. Econ Entomol. 98(1): 1-8).

See your local Pioneer sales representative to better understand which products make sense on your farm.

A decrease of susceptibility to certain technology traits in corn has been observed in some corn rootworm populations, which may result in lower efficacy than depicted in this chart. Please contact your authorized Pioneer sales representative or consult with your local University Extension for more information regarding insect resistance management guidelines, best management practices, and to understand whether there has been insect resistance documented in your area.

Authors: Murt McLeod, Steven Paszkiewicz, and Mark Jeschke

   

Q (Qrome®) - Contains a single-bag integrated refuge solution for above- and below-ground insects. The major component contains the Agrisure® RW trait, the YieldGard® Corn Borer gene, and the Herculex® XTRA genes. In EPA-designated cotton growing counties, a 20% separate corn borer refuge must be planted with Qrome products. Qrome® products are approved for cultivation in the U.S. and Canada. They have also received approval in a number of importing countries, most recently China. For additional information about the status of regulatory authorizations, visit www.biotradestatus.com. AMT - Optimum® AcreMax® TRIsect® Insect Protection System with RW,YGCB,HX1,LL,RR2. Contains a single-bag refuge solution for above and below ground insects. The major component contains the Agrisure® RW trait, the YieldGard® Corn Borer gene, and the Herculex® I genes. In EPA-designated cotton growing counties, a 20% separate corn borer refuge must be planted with Optimum AcreMax TRIsect products. AMX - Optimum® AcreMax® Xtra Insect Protection system with YGCB, HXX, LL, RR2. Contains a single-bag integrated refuge solution for above- and below-ground insects. In EPA-designated cotton growing counties, a 20% separate corn borer refuge must be planted with Optimum AcreMax Xtra products. AMXT - Optimum® AcreMax® XTreme contains a single-bag integrated refuge solution for above- and below-ground insects. The major component contains the Agrisure® RW trait, the YieldGard® Corn Borer gene, and the Herculex® XTRA genes. In EPA-designated cotton growing counties, a 20% separate corn borer refuge must be planted with Optimum AcreMax XTreme products. HX1 - Contains the Herculex® I Insect Protection gene which provides protection against European corn borer, southwestern corn borer, black cutworm, fall armyworm, western bean cutworm, lesser corn stalk borer, southern corn stalk borer, and sugarcane borer; and suppresses corn earworm. HXX - Herculex® XTRA contains the Herculex I and Herculex RW genes. YGCB - The YieldGard® Corn Borer gene offers a high level of resistance to European corn borer, southwestern corn borer and southern cornstalk borer; moderate resistance to corn earworm and common stalk borer; and above average resistance to fall armyworm. LL - Contains the LibertyLink® gene for resistance to Liberty® herbicide. Liberty®, RR2 - Contains the Roundup Ready® Corn 2 trait that provides crop safety for over-the-top applications of labeled glyphosate herbicides when applied according to label directions. Herculex® Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred. Herculex® and the HX logo are registered trademarks of Dow AgroSciences LLC. Poncho®, VOTiVO ® Liberty®, LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design are registered trademarks of Bayer. YieldGard®, the YieldGard Corn Borer design and Roundup Ready® are registered trademarks used under license from Monsanto Company. Agrisure® is a registered trademark of, and used under license from, a Syngenta Group Company. Agrisure® technology incorporated into these seeds is commercialized under a license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. The foregoing is provided for informational use only. Please contact your Pioneer sales professional for information and suggestions specific to your operation. 2013-2015 data are based on average of all comparisons made in 14 locations through Sept. 22, 2015. Multi-year and multi-location is a better predictor of future performance. Do not use these or any other data from a limited number of trials as a significant factor in product selection. Product responses are variable and subject to a variety of environmental, disease, and pest pressures. Individual results may vary.