Performance of Bt maize event MON810 in controlling maize stem borers Chilo partellus and Busseola fusca in Uganda
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Crop Protection
Abstract
Stem borers are major insect pests of maize in Uganda. A study was conducted in 2014–2016 to assess the
performance of Bt hybrids expressing Cry1Ab (event MON810) against the two major stem borer species in
Uganda – the African stem borer (Busseola fusca) and the spotted stem borer (Chilo partellus) – under artificial
infestation. The study comprised 14 non-commercialized hybrids, including seven pairs of Bt and non-Bt hybrids
(isolines), three non-Bt commercial hybrids and a conventional stem borer resistant check. All stem borer damage
parameters (leaf damage, number of internodes tunneled and tunnel length) were generally significantly lower in
Bt hybrids than in their isolines, the conventionally resistant hybrid, and local commercial hybrids. Mean yields
were significantly higher by 29.4–80.5% in the Bt hybrids than in the other three categories of non-Bt hybrids.
This study demonstrated that Bt maize expressing Cry1Ab protects against leaf damage and can limit entry of
stem borers into the stems of maize plants, resulting in higher yield than in the non-transgenic hybrids. Thus, Bt
maize has potential to contribute to the overall management package of stem borers in Uganda.
Description
Keywords
Busseola fusca, Chilo partellus, Bt maize, Exit hole, Stem tunnel, Isolines
Citation
Otim, M. H., Alibu, S., Asea, G., Abalo, G., Sserumaga, J. P., Adumo, S., ... & Oikeh, S. O. (2022). Performance of Bt maize event MON810 in controlling maize stem borers Chilo partellus and Busseola fusca in Uganda. Crop Protection, 156, 105945. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2022.105945