Yield performance of the European Union Maize Landrace Core Collection under multiple corn borer infestations

Two corn borer species are the principal maize insect pests in Europe, the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), and the pink stem borer, Sesamia nonagrioides (Lefebvre). Hence, it would be advisable to evaluate the European maize germplasm for corn borer resistance to generate European varieties resistant to corn borer attack. The creation of the European Union Maize Landrace Core Collection (EUMLCC) allowed the screening of most of the variability for European corn borer resistance present among European maize local populations from France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, testing a representative sample. The objective of this study was the evaluation of stem and ear resistance of the EUMLCC to European corn borer and pink stem borer attack. Trials were made at two Spanish locations that represent two very different maize-growing areas. Populations that performed relatively well under corn borer infestation for stem and ear damage were 'PRT0010008' and'GRC0010085', among very early landraces; 'PRT00100120' and 'PRT00100186', among early landraces; 'GRC0010174', among midseason landraces; and 'ESP0070441', among late landraces. Either the selection that could have happen under high insect pressure or the singular origin of determined maize populations would be possible explanations for the higher corn borer resistance of some landraces. Landraces 'PRT0010008', 'FRA0410090', 'PRT00100186', and 'ESP0090214' would be selected to constitute a composite population resistant to corn borers and adapted to short season, whereas populations 'ESP0090033', 'PRT00100530', 'GRC0010174', and 'ITA0370005' would be used to make a resistant composite adapted to longer season.

The genes sugary1 (su1) and shrunken2 (sh2) are commonly used to produce sweet and super-sweet corn (Zea mays L.), respectively. In this work we compare corn borer [european corn borer (ECB) (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.) and pink stem borer (PSB) (Sesamia nonagrioides Lef.)] susceptibility in seven pairs of su1 and sh2 near-isogenic sweet corn inbreds (101t, C23, C40, C68, Ia453, Ia5125, and P39) and the relationship between corn borer resistance and vegetative phase transition. The seven pairs of near-isogenic inbreds were evaluated under corn borer infestation during 3 years in northwestern Spain. Differences among inbreds were significant for most of the traits, although resistance was partial. Ia5125su1 and C40su1 were the most resistant inbreds. Differences between a few pairs of near-isogenic su1 and sh2 strains were significant for some vegetative phase change and corn borer damage-related traits. Generally su1 strains flowered earlier, had a shorter juvenile phase, fewer PSB, and more ECB larvae than sh2 strains. However su1 and sh2 strains did not differ significantly for most traits related to phase transition and corn borer damage; notably ear damage was not significantly different between su1 and sh2 strains. These results suggest that theoretical and practical results of sweet corn (sugary1) breeding for corn borer resistance could be capitalized for super-sweet corn (shrunken2) breeding.

In Mediterranean countries, the principal corn (Zea mays L.) pest is the pink stem borer (PSB) (Sesamia nonagrioides Lef.), followed in importance by the European corn borer (ECB) [Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner)]. Our objective was to quantify injury by these pests in a set of inbreds that showed different levels of ear damage by the PSB in a previous study and in their hybrids. A diallel among seven sweet corn inbreds that varied for ear damage by PSB was evaluated in three environments under PSB and ECB infestations. The importance of general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) for ear damage by corn borer was determined. Inbred parents were also tested under manual infestation conditions with both borers. There was variability for ear damage traits among sweet corn inbred lines, but none of them were completely resistant. General combining ability effects were significant for the general appearance of the ear, ears with damaged grain, and ears with damaged shanks under PSB infestation. Under PSB infestation, SCA was not significant for any trait. Most traits showed significant GCA effects under ECB infestation, although SCA effects were also important for some damage traits. The inbred EP61 could supply some favorable alleles because it showed negative and significant GCA effects for ear damage under infestation by both species. Inbreds EP59 and V7726 showed negative and significant GCA effects for ear damage by ECB. These inbreds could be included in a sweet corn synthetic population that would be improved to decrease ear damage by corn borers.

Selection against pink stem borer (Sesamia nonagrioides Lef) (PSB) attack was performed in the maize (Zea mays L.) synthetic EPS12. The direct response of the EPS12 population to three cycles of selection to reduce tunnel length damage by PSB while maintaining yield was evaluated. S0 (cycles of selection) and S1 (selfed cycles of selection) generations and testcrosses to three testers were evaluated under artificial infestation with two corn borers, PSB and European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner) (ECB). Genotypes and the genotype × environment interaction were significant for tunnel length and yield. Differences among cycles of selection were significant for tunnel length, and the linear decrease for this trait (−1.80 cm cycle−1) achieved during selection accounted for most of these differences. Yield was not significantly reduced with selection. Inbreeding for yield significantly increased due to selection. EPS12 crossed to EP42 showed a significant increase in yield with selection, while crosses to other testers showed a nonsignificant reduction in yield. Although crosses to EP42 were not significantly different for tunnel length, the high heterosis between EPS12 and EP42 and the increased yield of EPS12 × EP42 during selection suggest that inbred lines developed from advanced cycles of EPS12 could be crossed to EP42 to generate promising hybrids. In general, resistance to PSB and ECB was improved, while yield was maintained, inbreeding was increased, and yield of the cross EP42 × EPS12 was improved.

Mediterranean corn borer (MCB) (Sesamia nonagrioides Lef) and European corn borer (ECB) (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn) are the most important biotic stresses of maize in Europe. The first selection program to improve stalk resistance to MCB was carried out in the maize population EPS12. It has shown that selection was effective to improve stalk resistance to MCB and ECB, while yield was not significantly diminished. The objective of this research was to determine if correlated changes in EPS12 occurred due to selection for resistance to MCB. Cycles of selection per se and testcrosses to three testers were evaluated under MCB and ECB artificial infestation at two different Spanish locations during 2 years. Selection has significantly reduced cob damage, days to silking, plant and ear height, and 100-kernel weight; meanwhile early vigor was increased. These changes could rather be a consequence of unconscious selection and/or the genetic correlation of these traits with resistance than a consequence of genetic drift.

Resistance to corn borers, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and Sesamia nonagrioides (Lefebvre) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in maize, Zea mays L., populations is partial, and more resistant populations are needed. The objective of this research was to compare resistance to corn borers of the main maize races from North America. Twenty open-pollinated maize populations belonging to the races Southern Dent, Corn Belt Dent, and Northern Flint, and three check populations, were evaluated under artificial infestation with S. nonagrioides and O. nubilalis. None of the populations had complete resistance. Northern Flint had the lowest yield under corn borer infestation, whereas Southern Dent had the highest yield but also the largest damage. Corn Belt Dent had a shorter growing cycle and similar yield of infected plants than Southern Dent. The checks had intermediate yield and resistance and were not significantly different from Corn Belt Dent for any trait. The Southern Dent populations Tennessee Red Cob and White Dent (PI221885 and PI311232) could be used as sources of tolerance to corn borers, although they are not expected to provide great gains compared with the levels of tolerance already present in some Corn Belt Dent and European Flint populations and would require adaptation to short growing cycle. The Corn Belt Dent synthetic BS17 had the highest yield and general agronomic performance under corn borer infestation, along with Rustler and Silver King, and the European Flint composite EPS13.

This study was carried out during 1990-1993 in Samsun to determine the crop losses caused by European corn borer ( Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.) which is a key pest of corn borer in the Black sea region. The experiments were 4x3 factorial in randomized complete black design with 4 treatments (currently sprayed + two sprayings + one spraying and unsprayed ) and 3 replications in first two years, with 4 treatments and 4 replications in last two years. Hybrid maize varieties TMP-2 (Karadeniz Yildizi), TTM-813 and a local variety which are widely grown in the region were planted in separate plots. The different rates of infestations were made by different numbers of sprayings and the relationship between yield and rates of infestation was determined by plot yields at these levels of infestations. The result indicated that the correlation between yield loss and infestation levels was significant and negative. An infestation at a level of 80% resulted in 21.9, 31.3 and 29.7% yield loss in Karadeniz Yildizi, local, TTM-813 maize varieties, respectively. There was a significant and relative correlation between yield loss and number of holes caused by European corn borer. Yield loss per hole was 8.0% in Karadeniz.Yidizi, 6.8% in local variety and 7.1% in TTM-813.

The European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner) is a major pest of field corn (Zea mays L.) in the midwestern states. In 1991, an outbreak of this insect caused yield losses as high as 32.6 bu/acre in Iowa and averaged 14 bu/acre in Minnesota. Following this pest outbreak, a questionnaire was developed to: (i) assess how farmers and agribusiness professionals perceive the crop production risks posed by European corn borer, and (ii) explore how these perceptions are reflected in management options they use or recommend. Farmers and agribusiness professionals completed 851 surveys. The survey results provided insights into yield loss perceptions, management tactics used, and research needs for European corn borer management. Economic yield losses caused by European corn borers during the first and second generations, respectively, were thought to occur only by 65 to 69% of farmers, 78 to 81% of ag-chemical professionals, 84 to 89% of crop consultants, and 68 to 70% of educator/agronomists. Respondents that perceived economic losses caused by European corn borers thought that the average loss was 15.3 to 16.6 bu/acre during the first generation and 15.2 to 18.1 bu/acre during the second generation. Although two-thirds of the farmers perceived the European corn borer as a serious pest, only 35% had ever scouted their fields and used economic thresholds, and only 28% had ever used an insecticide to control the pest. Farmers' primary and secondary options for managing the European corn borer or reducing yield losses were to harvest the fields early before ears drop onto the ground (63.4%) and to plant hybrids with known resistance (39.0%), respectively. In contrast, scouting and using economic thresholds was the primary recommendation from ag-chemical professionals (68.3%), crop consultants (88.5%), and educator/agronomists (54.0%). The second most common recommendation was using an insecticide by ag-chemical professionals (57.9%) and educator/agronomists (41.4%), whereas crop consultants were more likely to suggest early harvest to prevent ear droppage (73.8%). The survey results suggest that many farmers don't manage European corn borer because of historic inaction, hidden yield losses, reluctance to scout, logistical burnout, capital doubts, cultural competition, insecticide concerns, and a failure to recognize the problem. The results also suggest a strong need to educate farmers and agribusiness professionals regarding biology, crop damage, and management options for the European corn borer.

The pink stem borer (PSB) (Sesamia nonagrioides Lefebvre) and the European corn borer (ECB) (Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner) are the major insect pests of corn (Zea mays L.) in Mediterranean countries, although larvae of other insects can also cause damage. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of sweet corn hybrids, planting time, and environment on damage by various insects. Data were recorded on the number of larvae of each of the aforementioned pests and damage produced in the ear 20 days after pollination and in the ear and stem when plants were dry. PSB was the most abundant pest, followed by ECB. Other insects, such as Mythimna unipuncta (Haworth) and Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) were rarely found in sweet corn plants. ECB was constant over time, PSB had larger seasonal variation, and M. unipuncta and H. armigera were highly variable over time. There were significant differences among planting dates and growing cycles for damage traits in each environment. Interactions among hybrids, planting dates, and environments were significant. Dry ears were damaged more than fresh ears and stems had more larvae than ears. The economic value of the crop was seriously affected because most fresh ears had some damage, and seed production would be severely affected by PSB.

Timing insecticide applications for managing European corn borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) infestations in potato

The performances of Bt-corn hybrids against univoltine ecotype European corn borer larvae were evaluated in South Dakota from 1997 to 1999. The corn hybrids were exposed to natural seasonal fluctuations of a univoltine ecotype European corn borer population. Larval injury parameters, grain yields, and gross incomes were quantified during the 3-yr study. In general, the Bt-corn hybrids had significantly higher yields than the untreated non-Bt isolines in 1997 and 1998 when corn borer pressures were high. However, most of the Bt-corn hybrids did not produce significant yield advantages in 1999 when the European corn borer pressure was low. Some of the Bt-corn hybrids even produced significantly lower yields than their untreated non-Bt counterparts in 1999. The performances of non-Bt isolines that were treated with permethrin granules at whorl stage were similar to Bt-corn hybrids in 1998 when the corn borer pressure was high and similar to the untreated non-Bt isolines in 1999 when the corn borer pressure was low. Injury-free corn produced by Bt-corn hybrids did not necessarily translate into higher yields in some hybrid groups. Grain moisture at harvest, which can result in moisture penalty or dockage, was significantly higher in most Bt-corn hybrids. Gross incomes of the Bt-corn hybrids were generally higher than the untreated non-Bt isolines when the corn borer infestation was high, but were either similar to or lower than the untreated non-Bt isolines when the corn borer infestation was low.

The European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hübn.), which is found almost universally in Europe and America, is an extremely important pest from economic point of view (Szőke et al., 2005). European corn borer larvae cause physical injuries to stalks and ears, and promote infections with Fusarium, by carrying the fungus spores from the plant surface to the surfaces of damaged kernels or to the interior of stalks, where infection occurs (Czembor, 2015). On account of the fact that between Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn. and Fusarium spp. there is a strong connection, and their presence lead to lower maize production, it’s purposed is reducing the corn borer attack, but also the occurrence of maize fusariosis, by applying treatments to the vegetation. The research was carried out at ARDS Turda, in the period 2014-2015 as a bifactorial experience, in which were performed two treatments on growing period, with insecticides, using the products: Avaunt 250 ml/ha (s.a. indoxacarb), Coragen 250 ml/ha (s.a. chlorantraniliprol), Proteus 400 ml/ha (s.a. tiacloprid + deltametrin), Calypso 150 ml/ha (s.a. tiacloprid) and Confidor 400 ml/ha (s.a. imidacloprid + deltametrin), and the biological material was used Turda 165 hybrid. Amid the climatic conditions in the two experimental years (2014-2015), regarding the frecquency attack of the Ostrinia nubilalis, 2015 proved to be a very favorable year for this pest, and by applying treatments to the vegetation, Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn. and Fusarium spp. attack has been reduced very significant. In order to combat the european corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.) chemically, are recommended products based on: chlorantraniliprol and tiacloprid+deltametrin.

In previous studies, we demonstrated cross-antagonism in pheromone perception between pheromone componentsof the two corn (Zea mays L.) borers Sesamia nonagrioides Lefèbvre (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in the laboratory and in the field. The two pheromone components identified as responsible for this cross-antagonism were Z 11-16:Ald, a minor component of S. nonagrioides pheromone, and Z 11-14:Ac, the main component of the pheromone of the Z-strain of O. nubilalis, which inhibited the response of O. nubilalis and S. nonagrioides, respectively. Here, we study this antagonism phenomenon in the field by air permeation of maize plots with each of the two components separately and measurement of mating in caged couples of the two corn borers on treated and untreated plots during three years. A significant reduction in mating rates was observed on the permeated plots: 7% for S. nonagrioides and 12% for O. nubilalis. When dispenser charges (200 ng) were increased by 50% and 75% in the third year, no decrease in mating rates was recorded at either of the increased concentrations. On the other hand, the use of large cages resulted in an increase of 8% to 12% in the percentage of unmated females in each of the two corn borers suggesting that at more realistic field corn borer densities, 0,1 couples/plant instead of the 2 couples/plant used in this experiment, cross-antagonism in the two corn borers could be higher than that recorded in small cages.

The Mediterranean corn borer or pink stem borer (MCB, Sesamia nonagrioides Lefebvre) causes important yield losses as a consequence of stalk tunneling and direct kernel damage. B73 and Mo17 are the source of the most commercial valuable maize inbred lines in temperate zones, while the intermated B73 x Mo17 (IBM) population is an invaluable source for QTL identification. However, no or few experiments have been carried out to detect QTL for corn borer resistance in the B73 x Mo17 population. The objective of this work was to locate QTL for resistance to stem tunneling and kernel damage by MCB in the IBM population. We detected a QTL for kernel damage at bin 8.05, although the effect was small and two QTL for stalk tunneling at bins 1.06 and 9.04 in which the additive effects were 4 cm, approximately. The two QTL detected for MCB resistance were close to other QTL consistently found for European corn borer (ECB, Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner) resistance, indicating mechanisms of resistance common to both pests or gene clusters controlling resistance to different plagues. The precise mapping achieved with the IBM population will facilitate the QTL pyramiding and the positional cloning of the detected QTL.

The pink stem borer (Sesamia nonagrioides Lef.) is the main corn (Zea mays L.) pest in the Mediterranean area. Although, screening for resistance to this pest has been successful, the level of resistance shown by the most resistant varieties is not high. The objectives of the present work were: (i) the evaluation for pink stem borer resistance of the nontested inbred lines, field and popcorn materials, from the collection maintained at the Mision Biologica de Galicia and (ii) the study of the performance, under pink stem borer infestation, of inbreds selected for resistance to pink stem borer in hybrid combination. Forty four inbred lines nontested yet for resistant to pink stem borer along with five inbred lines previously reported as resistant to stem and ear attack, were evaluated in 2002 and 2003. In adjacent experiments, hybrids EP79× W552, EP77× B93, and A661× EP42 were tested along with a resistant hybrid, MEB531-Bt, and a susceptible hybrid, INRA 260. New sources of resistance to pink stem borer have been detected among inbred lines improving the level of resistance presented by previously tested inbreds. Some of these lines were successfully developed by pedigree selection for resistance to pink stem borer.