Optimum® AcreMax™ 1 Insect Protection: Just the right “dose” for blending rootworm refuge

Previous research has shown maize containing event DAS-59122-7 produces approximately 99% western corn rootworm mortality when adult emergence is used as an endpoint. This result confirms larval susceptibility; however, further investigation is necessary to separate the relative contribution of the direct effects of this event and the indirect effects of other natural mortality factors. The objective of this study was two-fold: 1) to characterize the response of larval western corn rootworm after exposure to DAS-59122-7 maize seedlings beginning at each of three instars, and 2) to characterize neonate western corn rootworm recovery on conventional unprotected (non-transgenic) maize after prolonged exposure to DAS-59122-7 maize seedlings. These results were used to characterize larval susceptibility and further describe the mechanism of root protection. This presentation reports results of this experiment and describes the unique “dose” of DAS-59122-7 relative to the EPA definition of high dose.