Advancing insect resistance management for Ontario’s riskiest corn pests

Lead Applicant: Jocelyn Smith

Research Priority: Plant Health & Protection

Program Type: Tier 1

Funding Cycle: 2023/2024

Research Centre: Ontario Crops Research Centre - Ridgetown

Research Summary: Corn rootworm (CRW) and western bean cutworm (WBC) are two of the most challenging corn pests for Ontario producers to manage. There are few management tools available for these pests, and the preferred tool, transgenic corn expressing insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt corn), is in jeopardy due to increasing resistance in pest populations. The objectives of this project are 1) to evaluate the potential for a supplementary biological control strategy (entomopathogenic nematodes) to Bt-corn for CRW management, 2) to conduct an economic analysis of sustainable CRW management, 3) to optimize WBC rearing and resistance monitoring protocols, 4) to test the efficacy of resistance management plans for Bt corn and WBC, and 5) determine the susceptibility of WBC to the Vip3A Bt toxin. This research will help Ontario corn producers implement more resilient cropping systems with sustainable and economical pest management strategies.