GMO corn falls prey to bugs it was supposed to thwart
August 30, 2011 by Mira ObermanGreenpeace activists fly a kite displaying a giant corn cob on an acre in Seelow, eastern Germany, to protest against the cultivation of genetically modified maize. A voracious pest which has long plagued corn farmers is devouring a widely-used variety that was genetically modified to thwart the rootworms, raising fears of a new superbug.
A voracious pest which has long plagued corn farmers is devouring a widely-used variety that was genetically modified to thwart the rootworms, raising fears of a new superbug.
So far, there is no evidence that a significant number of rootworms have developed a resistance to the corn's protective toxin.
However, experts warn that farmers may be forced to resume the heavy use of pesticides if resistant bugs become widespread.
They also caution that farmers may be using genetically modified crops in ways that hasten the development of resistant bugs.
"The western corn rootworm is one of the most significant insect pests of corn in the United States and has a potential to become a very significant insect in Europe," said Michael Gray, a crop scientist at the University of Illinois.
Farmers used to be able to manage the pests by rotating which crops they planted in their fields.
But rootworms started to lay their eggs on soybeans -- the most common substitute -- which meant farmers had to use pesticides to get rid of them. The hardy and adaptive bugs have also developed resistance to some pesticides, Gray said Monday.
Monsanto released the first seeds that were genetically-modified to protect themselves from rootworms in 2003. US farmers used this type of seed for 45% of the US crop in 2009.
Evidence of the first resistant rootworms was found in four Iowa fields that suffered extensive damage from the pests in 2009.
Gray is currently investigating whether rootworms which devoured genetically modified corn in Illinois this year have also developed a resistance.
Laboratory testing published last month confirmed that the bugs collected from the Iowa fields were able to pass a resistance to the crop's toxins on to their offspring.
"These results suggest that improvements in resistance management and a more integrated approach to the use of Bt crops may be necessary," wrote lead researcher Aaron Gassmann of Iowa State University.
The fields where the resistant rootworms were found had been planted with the genetically modified seeds for at least three consecutive years.
That could have helped the bugs develop a resistance, Gassmann wrote.
Another contributor could be the insufficient use of "refuges," he concluded.
Farmers are supposed to plant 20 percent of their fields with corn that doesn't have the genetic modification so that if resistant bugs develop they will end up breeding with non-resistant rootworms drawn to the unprotected plants and lessen the chance of passing resistance on to the next generation.
Monsanto is already working to make it easier for farmers to comply with these government-mandated "refuges" by selling bags that contain a mix of unprotected and protected seeds.
It also has several other products already on the market which could work as a substitute if significant resistance develops and has several new products in the pipeline, said spokesman Lee Quarles.
But while Monsanto is taking the study results "seriously" there is no reason for farmers to stop using the current seeds, he said.
"Today's products work," Quarles told AFP. "They continue to provide tremendous performance to farmers and we're seeing that performance on greater than 99% of all acres planted."
(c) 2011 AFP
- save as pdf
- add to blog
- bookmark
- send feedback
- font size
- Miscanthus, a biofuels crop, can host western corn rootworm Jan 05, 2010 | not rated yet | 0
- Seed mixtures and insurance pest management: Future norm in the Corn Belt? May 05, 2011 | not rated yet | 0
- UW-Madison entomologist helps farmers deal with tricky crop pest Sep 15, 2009 | not rated yet | 0
- Farmers relying on roundup lose some of its benefit Apr 14, 2009 | not rated yet | 0
- Genetically engineered crops benefit many farmers, but the technology needs proper management to remain effective Apr 13, 2010 | not rated yet | 0
- Microscopy, quantum-style: Atomic stacks imaged in real space 2 hours ago | 5 / 5 (1) | 0
- Cyborg insects generate power for their own neural control 4 hours ago | 5 / 5 (1) | 1
- Water, water everywhere: Polarization dramatically affects H2O structure revealed through molecular dynamics simulation Aug 30, 2011 | 5 / 5 (5) | 3
- Genes ex silico: Computer-designed virus yields phenotype expression benefits Aug 29, 2011 | 4.8 / 5 (6) | 0
- Brittle silicon shows exceptional plasticity on the nanoscale Aug 26, 2011 | 5 / 5 (4) | 2
-
Western Blot Two Proteins
3 hours ago -
Question about animals' change of number of legs when they grow
8 hours ago -
Protein structure drawing method
15 hours ago -
Our bacteria
17 hours ago -
Concentration of Nucleotides
19 hours ago -
Western Blot Protein Length
Aug 30, 2011 - More from Physics Forums - Biology
More news stories
Sandfly saliva provides important clues for new Leishmaniasis treatments
For millions of people who live under the constant threat of Leishmania infection, a new discovery by Brazilian scientists may lead to new breakthroughs, preventing these parasites from taking hold in the body or reducing ...
49 minutes ago | not rated yet | 0
Genetic mutation may help explain first land-based plants
A graduate student working in the Judaean desert has discovered a gene that could provide some of the explanation of how water plants colonized dry land.
1 hour ago | not rated yet | 0 |
Finding mechanism behind bacteria's biological clock
(PhysOrg.com) -- A discovery by a professor at the University of California, Merced, is providing a deeper understanding of the factors that control biological clocks.
2 hours ago | not rated yet | 0 |
Noise pollution appears to cause some birds to change their songs making them less attractive
(PhysOrg.com) -- Most everyone knows that modern pollution causes a lot of problems for the other animals trying to exist on this planet. Chemicals in the air and water make animals sick or kill them; urban ...
Tropical coral could be used to create novel sunscreens for human use, say scientists
Researchers at King's College London have discovered how coral produces natural sunscreen compounds to protect itself from damaging UV rays, leading scientists to believe these compounds could form the basis ...
5 hours ago | not rated yet | 0
Word association: Study matches brain scans with complex thought
In an effort to understand what happens in the brain when a person reads or considers such abstract ideas as love or justice, Princeton researchers have for the first time matched images of brain activity ...
Solar industry responsible for lead emissions in developing countries
Solar power is not all sunshine. It has a dark side -- particularly in developing countries, according to a new study by a University of Tennessee, Knoxville, engineering professor.
Justice Department moves to block AT&T takeover of T-Mobile
The US Justice Department announced Wednesday it would seek to block AT&T's $39 billion takeover of T-Mobile, saying it would be anti-competitive.
Cracking cellulose: a step into the biofuels future
Scientists from the University of York have played a pivotal role in a discovery which could finally unlock the full potential of waste plant matter to replace oil as a fuel source.
Scientists unravel the cause of rare genetic disease: Goldman-Favre Syndrome explained
A new research report published in The FASEB Journal will help ophthalmologists and scientists better understand a rare genetic disease that causes increased susceptibility to blue light, night blindness, and decreased vision ...
Goodnight Irene: NASA's TRMM Satellite adds up Irene's massive rainfall totals
The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) has been busy doing just that: measuring the massive amounts of rainfall left in the wake of Hurricane Irene as she ravaged the Caribbean and U.S. East coast ...
Aug 30, 2011
Rank: 4.2 / 5 (5)
Aug 30, 2011
Rank: 4.3 / 5 (6)
The history of DDT just repeats again...
Aug 30, 2011
Rank: 4 / 5 (8)
But we will because money trumps common sense.
Aug 30, 2011
Rank: 2.2 / 5 (5)
There is no evidence that Pollen from GM plants affects bees in any way.
Since corn didn't produce the BT toxin in the first place, having the rootworms develop resistance to BT toxin doesn't make matters worse than before GMO crops were available.
These aren't some kind of unkillable superbugs, they are simply resistant to this particular toxin introduced into GM corn.
If the toxin hadn't been added to the corn, the rootworms would have been devastating the corn crops.
The same goes for DDT, if mosquitoes become resistant to DDT, then matters are simply back to the way they were before DDT was invented.
Resistance to DDT doesn't make them some kind of superbug.
Also, even the mosquitoes resistant to DDT are repelled by it.
Also don't forget DDT wiped out malaria in many countries including the US.
Aug 30, 2011
Rank: 5 / 5 (5)
this formulation is incorrect. there is a statistical significance linking BT crops to bee death but no proof so far as you can read here for example: http://foodfreedo...search/. considering the impact on our ecosystem if this would in fact be true, there is just no way to justify such experiment without disproofing such connections.
so without any independent study confirming monsatos claims of absolut safety any further experimention on our ecosystem should be stopped immediately imho.
Aug 30, 2011
Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
Aug 30, 2011
Rank: 1.7 / 5 (3)
23 hours ago
Rank: 5 / 5 (6)
Anyone believing claims from Monsanto about absolute safety of GMO crops should examine similar claims from BP about the Deepwater Horizon. IMHO, only fools believe such claims.
23 hours ago
Rank: 5 / 5 (4)
That being said, I want one.
22 hours ago
Rank: 5 / 5 (6)
Monsanto's legal department is probably a much worse version of the legion of doom. In india they force people to buy their seeds then (even though monsanto touts they are fail proof) the crop fails and the poor indian farmers see no way out but suicide and they drink the patented pesticide to kill themselves.
Monsanto is directly responsible for thousands of deaths world wide and who knows how many more due to starvation because their GMO crops don't perform like they said they would.
Someone needs to send these fools to live on the moon where they wont harm the rest of us who are honest, hard working people not slimy ass little devils who profit from other peoples tragedy.
22 hours ago
Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
When living things are involved, there *will* be adaptations that shift the balance of power - one way or the other.
20 hours ago
Rank: 5 / 5 (1)