Monday, 18 November 2002
D0134

This presentation is part of : Student Competition Display Presentations, Subsection Ea. Regulatory and Extension Entomology - Extension

Performance and public perception of Bt sweet corn in Virginia

Vonny M. Barlow1, Thomas P. Kuhar1, Tony Bratsch2, and Clifton Slade3. (1) Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Department of Entomology, Eastern Shore AREC, Painter, VA, (2) Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Department of Horticulture, 301 Saunders Hall, Blacksburg, VA, (3) Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Virginia Co-Operative Extension, 6321 Holland Rd, Suffolk, VA

In October of 2001 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of transgenic Bt, Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner sweet corn, Zea mays L. varieties. A major pest of sweet corn in Virginia, the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) exerts significant pressures leading to greater than 90% loss of untreated fresh market quality sweet corn. In the fall insect pressures make sweet corn production prohibitive. This has led to speculation about the performance of Bt sweet corn in Southern Virginia and its public acceptance. It is possible that the use of Bt sweet corn can expand the growing season in Southern Virginia and possibly reduce the number of pesticide sprays. Experiments were begun testing 3 varieties of Bt sweet corn (BC 0801, BSS 0977, GSS 0966) against their non-Bt isolines (Bigtime, Prime Plus, Jackpot) to evaluate pest resistance.

Species 1: Lepidoptera Noctuidae Helicoverpa zea (Corn earworm, Bollworm)
Keywords: Bt Sweet Corn

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