Mating Patterns of European Corn Borers and Resistance to Bt Crops
Author Information
Author(s): Dalecky Ambroise, Ponsard Sergine, Bailey Richard I, Pélissier Céline, Bourguet Denis
Primary Institution: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)
Hypothesis
How do mating patterns of European corn borers affect the effectiveness of the high-dose refuge strategy in delaying resistance to Bt crops?
Conclusion
European corn borers tend to mate locally, which may reduce the effectiveness of management strategies aimed at delaying resistance to Bt toxins.
Supporting Evidence
- Mark-recapture experiments showed that resident females mated regardless of whether males had dispersed.
- Approximately 97% of recaptured females were found to be mated.
- Limited evidence suggested that immigrant females mated less readily with local males than resident females.
Takeaway
European corn borers usually mate close to where they were born, which could make it harder to manage their resistance to certain crops.
Methodology
The study used mark-recapture and biogeochemical marking over three breeding seasons to analyze mating patterns in natural populations of European corn borers.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in mating success due to the age and condition of immigrant females compared to resident females.
Limitations
The study may not account for all dispersal behaviors in natural conditions, and the recapture area was limited.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), a major pest of corn.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% credibility interval included 0
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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