Abstract
The field efficacy of the endophytic bacterium Clavibacter xyli subsp. cynodontis (Cxc) expressing the cry-IA ( c ) insecticidal protein gene of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) was evaluated against European corn borer ( Ostrinia nubilalis ) (ECB) in field corn during 1990 in Maryland and during 1991-1993 in Nebraska. The engineered strains, referred to as Cxc/Bt, were introduced into corn seedlings using a would inoculation technique or into corn seed via a pressure infiltration technique. Two Cxc/Bt strains (MDR1.586, MDR1.1413) were evaluated in the pedigree LH119 × LH82. Plants were artificially infested near pollen shed with neonate ECB larvae and later dissected to determine the amount of ECB tunneling. In 1993, plots were machine-harvested to obtain yield data. Both Cxc/Bt strains significantly reduced ECB damage compared with plants colonized by wild-type Cxc and/or uncolonized control plants. In 1990, strain MDR1.586 reduced the number of tunnels by 64.0%. Field efficacy of strain MDR1.586 was further demonstrated in 1991 and 1992 as treated plants exhibited 57.1 and 65.0% fewer tunnels, respectively. Strain MDR1.1413 reduced the number of tunnels by 79.0% in 1992 and by 68.7% in 1993. Despite the significant control of ECB by strain MDR1.1413 in 1993, grain yield from Cxc/Bt-inoculated plants was not significantly different from the uninoculated control.
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