Corn rootworm is a significant pest of corn throughout the Corn Belt and is capable of causing economic losses of over $1 billion dollars annually through yield loss and pest management costs. Insect-protected corn containing B.t. traits targeting corn rootworm have been available and provided effective control of corn rootworm throughout the Corn Belt since 2003 and provide growers with numerous benefits over conventional management tactics. In 2011, Gassman et al. (2011) reported that western corn rootworm collected from four Iowa field had developed resistance to the Cry3Bb1 protein found in Monsanto's corn rootworm B.t. products. Because the number of rootworm traits available is limited, reports of resistance to B.t. traits targeting corn rootworm are a concern for all trait providers. Since the Gassmann et al (2011) report of field evolved resistance, corn rootworm trait providers have refined definitions of resistance in product registrations, developed new field evaluation processes, and best management recommendations for fields with unexpected damage from corn rootworm. This presentation will provide an industry perspective to the emerging issue of corn rootworm resistance to B.t. traits and review practical management efforts and basic research efforts currently being conducted.

Industry perspective on emerging resistance issues with corn rootworm

248th National Meeting (2014)

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