EFFECT OF RESEARCH ON COMMERCIAL HYBRID MAIZE RESISTANCE TO EUROPEAN CORN-BORER (LEPIDOPTERA, PYRALIDAE)

Economic loss caused by the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), amounts to millions of dollars per year. Maize breeding programs funded from public and private sources have developed and released germplasm with resistance to European corn borer whorl leaf feeding and, to a lesser extent, sheath and sheath collar feeding during flowering. A 4-yr study of 100 hybrids each year was undertaken to evaluate levels of resistance to European corn borer available to the farmer in commercial hybrids. About 90% of the maize hybrids evaluated have some resistance to whorl leaf feeding and about 75% have some resistance to sheath and sheath collar feeding. In approximately two-thirds of the hybrids evaluated in Missouri, the resistance levels could be further enhanced and susceptible hybrids improved with the introduction of additional genes for resistance.