Ontario Field Crop Report – August 24, 2022

Unexpected damage on Bt-RW hybrids can include goosenecking (left) and lodging due to significant root clipping caused by rootworm larvae and silk clipping by adults that impede pollination of the ear (right).

Continuous Corn and Bt Corn Rootworm Resistance

Unexpected damage on Bt rootworm (Bt-RW) hybrids – hybrids with below-ground protection – has been found in several fields and new counties this month. The damage includes significant stunting, root clipping, goosenecking, silk clipping and abundant rootworm adult populations mating and feeding (Figure 1). All of these are likely signs of rootworm resistance to Bt-RW proteins. This damage can be significantly amplified with lack of rain and/or following windstorms that result in significant plant lodging.

Figure 1. Unexpected damage on Bt-RW hybrids can include goosenecking (left) and lodging due to significant root clipping caused by rootworm larvae and silk clipping by adults that impede pollination of the ear (right).

All cases have been in fields of continuous corn for three or more years, where producers are relying solely on Bt- RW hybrids to manage corn rootworm. There have also been neighbouring fields adjacent to these fields experiencing similar issues, even in second year corn, due to resistant rootworm adults moving into their fields too.

What producers might not realize is that they are not only losing quantities of feed but also quality in these problem fields. It is not just an agronomic problem; this is also a feed supply problem.  Plants with significant root clipping are not able to effectively transport nutrients, reducing the amount and quality of plant material harvested. Yield loss is already happening a few years before the damage becomes very evident. In addition, poorly pollinated ears from adults clipping the silks results in fewer kernels and smaller ears. If the field lodges before harvest, the flattened plants take more time to harvest; leaving some plants behind to avoid soil in the feed. By continuing to grow corn on corn and solely relying on Bt rootworm hybrids as the rootworm management tool, we are neglecting to manage the resistance issue, while also producing less and less quality feed for livestock.

Switching to another  Bt-RW hybrid is not the solution. Once there is resistance to one of the Bt-RW proteins, rootworms are resistant to all other Bt-RW proteins used in other hybrids and brands. Moving to the new RNAi traited hybrids is also not the solution. The RNAi traits are paired with Bt traits as RNAi is not effective on its own. If populations are already resistant to the Bt-RW proteins that are paired with the RNAi trait, the RNAi trait is then a single mode of action and resistance can develop within one to three years. If we also lose the RNAi traits, we have no more transgenic corn options to turn to. Period. There are no new transgenic solutions coming down the pipeline in the next 5 to 10 years for rootworm management. We must  work to maintain what durability we have left for the Bt-RW hybrids, and not misuse the RNAi traits too.

Moving to soil insecticides is also not a good solution. It is costly to have insecticide boxes added to planters after market. When soil insecticide becomes the single form of control in fields with Bt resistance, we will very soon have resistance to the insecticide. This has been well documented in the US, when they also turned to soil insecticides to try to “protect” the Bt-RW hybrids in these fields. What is the solution? Rotation out of corn once every four years (Figure 2). We simply can’t be growing corn on corn for more than three years now that Bt resistance is here in Ontario. We also need to be more selective as to when we use Bt-RW hybrids. Adults lay their eggs in early fall, which overwinter in the soil.  Rootworm larvae hatch in early summer. Larvae live exclusively in the soil and don’t move around much so if they don’t find corn roots when they hatch, they die. By rotating a field out of corn, populations crash and take at least two to three years to build back up enough for the crop to need protection again. That means first and second year corn won’t need (and shouldn’t be using) Bt-RW hybrids. Save the Bt-RW and RNAi hybrids for third year corn. Then rotate out of corn again to “reboot” the system.

Figure 2. Sustainable corn rootworm management. Diagram taken from the Manage Resistance Now Factsheet “Managing Corn Rootworm in Bt Corn in Continuous Corn Fields.”

What crop to rotate to depends on your needs and equipment. There are alternative feed crops that could be considered. More details on alternative feed options can be found on the Canadian Corn Pest Coalition website (www.cornpest.ca). Some producers grow soybeans while others move to alfalfa to improve soil health of the field. Or they swap land with a friendly neighbour who follows a good three-year crop rotation. They plant their non-corn crop into your continuous corn field for a year while you plant a hybrid without Bt-RW or RNAi traits in theirs. So long as their field wasn’t in corn the previous year, it won’t need rootworm protection and won’t enable resistant rootworm populations to continue to build in the area. Custom planting and/or harvest are also options to consider.

These short-term hurdles will pay in the long run when you are able to knock back your rootworm populations and no longer need to solely rely on Bt-RW hybrids to manage rootworm. It will result in a more stable feed supply and significantly reduce the risk of resistance developing and spreading. It is our best approach to maintaining the durability of Bt-RW and RNAi traits.

If you haven’t checked your Bt-RW hybrids in continuous corn fields yet this month, do so. Report any unexpected damage to your seed provider and Tracey Baute, OMAFRA and Chair of the Canadian Corn Pest Coalition.

Weather DataAugust 15 – 21, 2022

LocationYearHighest Temp (°C)Lowest Temp (°C)Rain (mm)Rain (mm) April 1stGDD 0C April 1stGDD 5C April 1stCHU May 1st
Harrow202227.913.417.8374247817962753
202128.411.89.1438248117842655
10 YR Avg. (2011-20)26.715.927.3440245917472738
Ridgetown202229.510.930.5268234016652541
202128.59.416.6414234516572505
10 YR Avg. (2011-20)26.613.514.2397231416062549
London202229.212.912.6306228016102473
202129.89.36.5334233016462470
10 YR Avg. (2011-20)26.313.920.6409229415912533
Brantford202230.012.53.1270228916132426
202131.77.710.2302229916142424
Welland202230.413.015.4291234316582556
202130.111.02.7298231116222468
10 YR Avg. (2011-20)26.614.319.3371230816042554
Elora202229.610.54.4228209714332224
202128.710.31.1266213114562252
10 YR Avg. (2011-20)25.311.122.1409207213822268
Mount Forest202228.310.93.6310209114342259
202128.47.932.7360213614632264
10 YR Avg. (2011-20)24.912.530.8426205713742278
Peterborough202230.26.638.6305210614282239
202130.56.70.8301213814522240
10 YR Avg. (2011-20)26.410.417.0365210614152275
Kemptville202231.39.90.2407225515582437
202133.38.72.0266229716052388
10 YR Avg. (2011-20)27.413.037.4407221415242429
Earlton202228.210.631.2326190512762091
202131.88.00.0451200413372072
10 YR Avg. (2011-20)24.410.016.5350179611902020
Sudbury202227.010.76.5296192812902143
202131.19.00.0375203113652136
10 YR Avg. (2011-20)24.411.922.8382192512952170
Thunder Bay202228.77.623.2445168810881816
202134.39.40.2228189912461977
10 YR Avg. (2011-20)25.99.018.3355171010921872
Fort Frances202227.56.021.6555177111731974
202133.17.111.2210201213532126
10 YR Avg. (2011-20)26.58.617.8358183311972020
Report compiled by OMAFRA using Environment Canada data. Data quality is verified but accuracy is not guaranteed. Report supplied for general information purposes only. An expanded report is available at www.fieldcropnews.com.