University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Evaluation of transgenic, Bt-containing corn hybrids

Graeber, James Vernon

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Description

Title
Evaluation of transgenic, Bt-containing corn hybrids
Author(s)
Graeber, James Vernon
Issue Date
1996
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Nafziger, Emerson D.
Department of Study
Agronomy
Discipline
Agronomy
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
  • Agriculture, Agronomy
  • Agriculture, Plant Pathology
Language
eng
Abstract
  • European corn borer (ECB; Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner)) is a major pest of corn (Zea mays L.) throughout the Corn Belt. Methods employed to control or manage this insect, such as polygenic plant resistance, introduced ECB predators, and chemical insecticides, have had some successes but economic loss to producers is still common. Advances in biotechnology have provided the tools to produce transgenic plants. Transgenic corn hybrids containing a modified Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) gene have been produced and may provide a new method of managing ECB.
  • Field studies in four locations (Crawfordsville, IN; St. Joseph, IL; Clinton, IL; and Washington, IA) were conducted in 1994 in order to determine the effectiveness of transgenic hybrids that contained a version of the Bt gene in controlling ECB. Also investigated in this study were yield loss and changes in yield components due to first and second generation ECB infestation. Eight hybrids were utilized: Northrup King N7768 and S7759; Pioneer 3189 and 3471; two experimental transgenic Bt hybrids, BT1 and BT2 and their non-transgenic versions, WT1 and WT2, respectively. Four ECB infestation treatments were applied: no infestation, first generation only, second generation only, and first plus second generation.
  • First generation ECB damage, estimated by leaf damage ratings, and second generation ECB damage estimated by amount of stalk tunneling, were reduced or eliminated with the use of the Bt hybrids. Grain yield, stalk lodging, ear length, and test weight were not affected by first or second generation ECB infestation with these transgenic hybrids.
  • Considering the six non-transgenic hybrids, grain yields were not reduced by first generation ECB infestation and stalk lodging, ear length, and test weight were not affected. Second generation ECB infestation damage, which was relatively low in the environments tested, reduced grain yield in these hybrids (4.0 to 6.3%). Stalk lodging was increased slightly, ear length and test weight were decreased. Grain moisture content was decreased as a result of second generation ECB infestation due to earlier plant senescence.
Type of Resource
text
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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/23355
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 1996 Graeber, James Vernon

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Graduate Dissertations and Theses at Illinois PRIMARY
Graduate Theses and Dissertations at Illinois
Dissertations and Theses - Agronomy