Discovery of midgut genes for the RNA interference control of corn rootworm.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising new technology for corn rootworm control. This paper presents the discovery of new gene targets - dvssj1 and dvssj2, in western corn rootworm (WCR). Dvssj1 and dvssj2 are orthologs of the Drosophila genes snakeskin (ssk) and mesh, respectively.

mCry3A-Selected Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Colony Exhibits High Resistance and Has Reduced Binding of mCry3A to Midgut Tissue.

Several Bt maize events expressing various insecticidal Cry protein genes have been commercialized for management of western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). We used high efficacy (>99.7%) experimental maize events that express mCry3A for selections under laboratory conditions to develop a western corn rootworm colony resistant to mCry3A at higher levels than published results.