Susceptibility and field exposure of Striacosta albicosta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs and larvae in Ontario, Canada to four insecticides.

Background: Striacosta albicosta Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a primary pest of corn, Zea mays L., in the Great Lakes region, causing yield loss and exacerbating mycotoxin contamination of grain. Foliar insecticides are currently used to manage S.

Relationship between Mycotoxin Content in Winter Wheat Grain and Aspirated Dust Collected during Harvest and after Storage.

A total of 323 paired grain and grain dust samples (particle size <1650 μm) were collected from combines at harvest (56%), on-farm bins (28%), and experimental minibins seeded with an ochratoxin A (OTA)/ hot spots (15%) of which >98% were soft red winter wheat. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to detect 21 mycotoxins, including deoxynivalenol (DON) and its plant-conjugated form, deoxynivalenol 3-β-d-glucoside (DON 3-Glc). Except for DON 3-Glc, all mycotoxin concentrations found in grain dust were higher than in grain ( < 0.

Fugitive Dust During Planting of Canola with an Air Seeder as a Source of Environmental Contamination for Pesticides Applied on Seed: A Case Study.

The dispersion of clothianidin from treated seeds was studied in a commercial winter canola field. During planting, using a John Deere 1890 single disk air seeder, a proportion, an estimated 14.2 ± 2.

The Change in Winter Wheat Response to Deoxynivalenol and Fusarium Head Blight Through Technological and Agronomic Progress.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat causes yield loss, quality reduction, and mycotoxin contamination in temperate wheat production areas worldwide. The objective of this study was to quantify the progress of agronomic and FHB management strategies over the past two decades in FHB suppression and agronomic performance of winter wheat in environments favorable for FHB. Field experiments were conducted in environments typical of FHB epidemics to compare common agronomic and FHB management practices used in the 1996 era compared with those used in 2016.

The Effect of Simulated Lepidopteran Ear Feeding Injury on Mycotoxin Accumulation in Grain Corn (Poales: Poaceae).

Fusarium graminearum Schwabe (Hypocreales: Nectriaceae) and Fusarium verticillioides (Saccardo) (Hypocreales: Nectriaceae) Nirenberg infection results in accumulation of deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZON), and fumonisin (FBs) mycotoxins in infected corn, Zea mays L. Lepidopteran insect feeding may exacerbate fungal infection by providing entry points on the ear resulting in increased mycotoxin contamination of grain. The objective of the current study was to simulate different types and severity levels (extent of injury) of lepidopteran injury to corn ears at different stages of ear development and its effect on mycotoxin accumulation in grain corn.

Quantifying Early-Season Pest Injury and Yield Protection of Insecticide Seed Treatments in Corn and Soybean Production in Ontario, Canada.

A 4-yr study was conducted comparing the efficacy and value of fungicide-only (FST), neonicotinoid insecticide + fungicide (NST), and diamide insecticide + fungicide (DST) seed treatments for commercial corn Zea mays L. and soybean Glycines max (L.) Merr.

Practical Resistance of Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) to Cry1F Bacillus thuringiensis maize discovered in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Transgenic maize, Zea mays L., modified to express insecticidal proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, was introduced in 1996 to control Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), a key maize pest in North America. The high-dose/refuge concept, developed to delay or prevent resistance evolution to this technology, has been exemplified by O.

Susceptibility of Different Instars of Striacosta albicosta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Vip3A, a Bacillus thuringiensis (Bacillaceae: Bacillales) Protein.

Striacosta albicosta (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an important pest of corn, Zea mays L. in the Great Lakes region, which can be controlled by transgenic corn expressing Vip3A protein from Bacillus thuringiensis. To inform insect resistance management, the susceptibility, survival, and development of first, third, and fifth instar S.

Neonicotinoid insecticide residues in subsurface drainage and open ditch water around maize fields in southwestern Ontario.

Neonicotinoids are widely used class of insecticides. Most are seed treatments and during planting active ingredient may be abraded and lost in fugitive dust. Much of this active ingredient contaminates surface waters, exposing aquatic organism to potential ill effects.

Effect of Prothioconazole Application Timing on Fusarium Mycotoxin Content in Maize Grain.

In 2010 and 2011, studies to determine the optimal timing of prothioconazole application (200 g a.i./ha) for reducing Fusarium mycotoxin accumulation in grain were conducted in controlled replicated experiments under small-plot mist-irrigated experiments and in field-scale experiments using two hybrids susceptible to F.

Fusarium graminearum Mycotoxins in Maize Associated With Striacosta albicosta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Injury.

Western bean cutworm, Striacosta albicosta (Smith; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) has become a key pest of maize, Zea mays (L.), in Ontario, Canada which is challenging to control due to its lack of susceptibility to most Bt-maize events. Injury by S.

Baseline Susceptibility of Striacosta albicosta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Ontario, Canada to Vip3A Bacillus thuringiensis Protein.

Striacosta albicosta (Smith; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a pest of corn (Zea mays L.), which has recently expanded its range into Ontario, Canada. Genetically modified corn expressing Vip3A insecticidal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis is a biotechnological option for the control of S.

The role of field dust in pesticide drift when pesticide-treated maize seeds are planted with vacuum-type planters.

Background: Neonicotinoid-contaminated dust escaping pneumatic seeders causes exposure to non-target organisms such as pollinators. Two sources of dust have been reported: abrasion by talc which is added as seed lubricant during planting, and seed-to-seed abrasion occurring during seed handling, distribution and planting. We report a third important source that warrants remediation.

Occurrence of Penicillium verrucosum, ochratoxin A, ochratoxin B and citrinin in on-farm stored winter wheat from the Canadian Great Lakes Region.

The occurrence of P. verrucosum and ochratoxin A (OTA) were surveyed for 3 and 4 years, respectively. A total of 250 samples was collected from an average of 30 farms during the 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 winter seasons.

Early Detection and Mitigation of Resistance to Bt Maize by Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

Transgenic Bt maize that produces less than a high-dose has been widely adopted and presents considerable insect resistance management (IRM) challenges. Western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, has rapidly evolved resistance to Bt maize in the field, leading to local loss of efficacy for some corn rootworm Bt maize events. Documenting and responding to this resistance has been complicated by a lack of rapid diagnostic bioassays and by regulatory triggers that hinder timely and effective management responses.

Susceptibility of Aphelinus certus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) to neonicotinoid seed treatments used for soybean pest management.

Soybean aphid is an economic pest of soybean in North America. Currently, management of soybean aphid is achieved through the use of foliar- and seed-applied insecticides. However, natural enemies play an important role in regulating soybean aphid populations, and may be adversely affected by insecticides.

Incorporating natural enemy units into a dynamic action threshold for the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines (Homoptera: Aphididae).

Background: Recommended action thresholds for soybean aphid, Aphis glycines, do not adjust for natural enemy impact, although natural enemies contribute important biological control services. Because individual natural enemy species have varied impacts on pest population dynamics, incorporating the impact of a diverse predator guild into an action threshold can be cumbersome.

Results: Field surveys identified an aphidophagous natural enemy complex dominated by Orius insidiosus, Coccinella septempunctata, Harmonia axyridis and Aphelinus certus.

Susceptibility of Aphelinus certus to foliar-applied insecticides currently or potentially registered for soybean aphid control.

Background: Soybean aphid, a serious economic pest of soybean in North America, is currently managed by applying non-selective foliar insecticides during outbreaks according to decision thresholds and crop maturity. Natural enemies, such as the parasitoid Aphelinus certus Yasnosh, potentially play an important role in suppressing soybean aphid. Using selective insecticides that preserve A.

Sublethal effects of Cry 1F Bt corn and clothianidin on black cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larval development.

Black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an occasional pest of maize (corn), Zea mays L., that may cause severe stand losses and injury to corn seedlings. The efficacy of the neonicotinoid seed treatment clothianidin at two commercially available rates and their interaction with a transgenic corn hybrid (Bt corn), trait expressing the Bacillus thuringiensis variety aizawai insecticidal toxin Cry 1Fa2, against black cutworm larvae was investigated.

Development and parasitism by Aphelinus certus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), a parasitoid of Aphis glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

Since its introduction in 2000, the soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura) has been a serious pest of soybean in North America. Currently, insecticide application is the only recommended control method. However, a number of natural enemies have the potential to regulate soybean aphid populations.

Choosing organic pesticides over synthetic pesticides may not effectively mitigate environmental risk in soybeans.

Background: Selection of pesticides with small ecological footprints is a key factor in developing sustainable agricultural systems. Policy guiding the selection of pesticides often emphasizes natural products and organic-certified pesticides to increase sustainability, because of the prevailing public opinion that natural products are uniformly safer, and thus more environmentally friendly, than synthetic chemicals.

Methodology/principal Findings: We report the results of a study examining the environmental impact of several new synthetic and certified organic insecticides under consideration as reduced-risk insecticides for soybean aphid (Aphis glycines) control, using established and novel methodologies to directly quantify pesticide impact in terms of biocontrol services.

Increased expression of a cGMP-dependent protein kinase in rotation-adapted western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera L.).

A new 'variant' behavior in western corn rootworm (WCR) has resulted in egg-laying into non-cornfields, compared to 'normal' deposition of eggs in cornfields, allowing these insects to circumvent crop rotation. No morphological or genetic characteristics have been defined to differentiate between the normal and variant biotypes. Cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinases (PKG) have been implicated in the regulation of behaviors in vertebrates, insects, and nematodes, including foraging behavior in Drosophila.

Phenology and field biology of black cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Ontario no-till corn.

Black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel), is an occasional corn, Zea mays L., pest that is attracted to no-till fields. Understanding the phenology of black cutworm in Ontario no-till corn, particularly the time of arrival of adults in relation to the onset of crop damage and the stages of larvae that coincide with vulnerable corn seedling leaf stages, is important for their effective control.

Modeling effects of environment, insect damage, and Bt genotypes on fumonisin accumulation in maize in Argentina and the Philippines.

Fumonisins are common contaminants of maize (Zea mays L.) grain products, especially in countries where maize is a major constituent of the diet and are harmful to human and animal health. There is a need to better define environmental conditions that favor fumonisin accumulation in the grain of maize.

Use of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner corn hybrids to determine the direct economic impact of the European corn borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on field corn in eastern Canada.

Transgenic corn expressing Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt corn) (Maximizer and Yieldgard hybrids, Novartis Seeds), non-Bt isolines and high-performance (check) hybrids were evaluated for European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), damage and grain yield in commercial strip plots across Ontario in 1996 and 1997. Bt corn hybrids reduced stalk tunneling damage by 88-100%. In 1996, minimal damage was found in locations where only one generation of European corn borer occurred per year.