Western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, adult susceptibility to MON 87411 tissues

Monsanto has developed MON 87411 maize that confers resistance to western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, larvae by expressing both a Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3Bb1 protein and a transcript containing a 240 bp dsRNA targeting the D. virgifera virgifera (WCR) Snf7gene (DvSnf). WCR beetles emerging from refuge plants could feed on above-ground MON87411 tissues. Therefore, to support an assessment of resistance risk and design of an appropriate refuge strategy, WCR adults were fed MON 87411 or isoline above-ground tissues. Survivorship was measured to determine the potential impact of MON87411 on WCR beetles. Results will be discussed during this presentation.