Genetically Engineered Bt Corn and Range Expansion of the Western Bean Cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the United States: A Response to Greenpeace Germany

Abstract The corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), is a common lepidopteran pest of corn (Zea mays L.) in the United States. This article provides an overview of the life history, ecology, plant injury, and management of H. zea in corn. Leaf injury by H. zea feeding can occur in vegetative stage corn, though this type of injury is rare. The most common type of injury is caused by larval feeding in ears. Because kernel injury is typically limited to the tip of the ear, H. zea is generally not considered an economic pest. The use of transgenic corn hybrids expressing insecticidal Cry proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Berliner can reduce injury from H. zea, though complete control is not achieved with most Bt traits. Resistance has been reported to several Bt toxins. Because H. zea is a major economic pest in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and because H. zea moths that developed on corn can migrate to cotton, selection pressure on H. zea in Bt corn has major implications for the pest status and injury to Bt cotton. Although the impact of H. zea on yield of field corn is generally negligible, the selection pressure exerted by Bt corn has led to management issues in cotton.

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Range expansion and distributional limits of the nine-banded armadillo in the United States: an update of Taulman & Robbins (1996)

Journal of Biogeography ◽

10.1111/jbi.12319 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 41 (8) ◽

pp. 1626-1630 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

James F. Taulman ◽

Lynn W. Robbins

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Range Expansion ◽

The United States ◽

Distributional Limits

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First Hemispheric Report of Invasive Tick Species Haemaphysalis Punctata Canestrini Et Fanzago, 1878, First State Report of Haemaphysalis Longicornis Neumann, and Range Expansion of Native Tick Species in Rhode Island, USA

10.21203/rs.3.rs-359304/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Danielle M Tufts ◽

Maria A Diuk-Wasser

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Rhode Island ◽

Range Expansion ◽

Tick Species ◽

The United States ◽

Western Hemisphere ◽

Avian Host ◽

Haemaphysalis Longicornis ◽

New Locations ◽

Block Island

Abstract Invasive arthropod vectors and the range expansions of native vectors can lead to public and veterinary health concerns, as these vectors may introduce novel pathogens or spread endemic pathogens to new locations. Recent tick invasions and range expansion in the United States has been attributed to climate and land use change, an increase in global travel, and importations of exotic animals. A 10 year surveillance study was conducted on Block Island, Rhode Island from 2010–2020 including sampling ticks from small mammal and avian hosts. We report the discovery and establishment of the red sheep tick for the first time in the western hemisphere and in the United States. This invasive species was first collected in 2010 on Block Island, was collected continuously throughout the study, and was collected from an avian host. We document the first report of the invasive Asian longhorned tick in the state of Rhode Island, first observed at our sites in 2018. Finally, we present data on the range expansion and establishment of two native tick species, the lone star tick and the rabbit tick on Block Island. This study emphasized the importance of long-term surveillance to detect changes in tick host communities, including invasive and expanding native vectors of potential significance to humans and wildlife.

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Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) and Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) Control in No-Tillage Conventional (Non–genetically engineered) Soybean Using Overlapping Residual Herbicide Programs

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/wet.2018.78 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 95-105 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Debalin Sarangi ◽

Amit J. Jhala

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

The United States ◽

Genetically Engineered ◽

Palmer Amaranth ◽

Cost Ratio ◽

No Tillage ◽

Benefit Cost Ratio ◽

No Till ◽

Benefit Cost ◽

Herbicide Programs

AbstractDue to depressed corn and soybean prices over the last few years in the United States, growers in Nebraska are showing interest in no-tillage (hereafter referred to as no-till) conventional (non–genetically engineered [non-GE]) soybean production. Due to the increasing number of herbicide-resistant weeds in the United States, weed control in no-till non-GE soybean using POST herbicides is a challenge. The objectives of this study were to compare PRE-only, PRE followed by (fb) POST, and PRE fb POST with residual (POST-WR) herbicide programs for Palmer amaranth and velvetleaf control and soybean injury and yield, as well as to estimate the gross profit margins and benefit–cost ratio of herbicide programs. A field experiment was conducted in 2016 and 2017 at Clay Center, NE. The PRE herbicides tested in this study resulted in ≥95% Palmer amaranth and velvetleaf control at 28 d after PRE (DAPRE). Averaged across the programs, the PRE-only program controlled Palmer amaranth 66%, whereas 86% and 97% control was obtained with the PRE fb POST and PRE fb POST-WR programs, respectively, at 28 d after POST (DAPOST). At 28 DAPOST, the PRE fb POST herbicide programs controlled velvetleaf 94%, whereas the PRE-only program resulted in 85% control. Mixing soil-residual herbicides with foliar-active POST programs did not improve velvetleaf control. Averaged across herbicide programs, PRE fb POST programs increased soybean yield by 10% and 41% in 2016 and 2017, respectively, over the PRE-only programs. Moreover, PRE fb POST-WR programs produced 7% and 40% higher soybean yield in 2016 and 2017, respectively, compared with the PRE fb POST programs. The gross profit margin (US$1,184.3 ha−1) was highest under flumioxazin/pyroxasulfone (PRE) fb fluthiacet-methyl plusS-metolachlor/fomesafen (POST-WR) treatment; however, the benefit–cost ratio was highest (6.1) with the PRE-only program of flumioxazin/chlorimuron-ethyl.

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CURRENT RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR Bt CORN IN THE UNITED STATES

Transgenic Crop Protection ◽

10.1201/9781482294378-10 ◽

2004 ◽

pp. 275-302

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Resistance Management ◽

The United States ◽

Bt Corn ◽

Current Resistance

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An Overview of Attitudes Toward Genetically Engineered Food

Annual Review of Nutrition ◽

10.1146/annurev-nutr-071715-051223 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 459-479 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Sydney E. Scott ◽

Yoel Inbar ◽

Christopher D. Wirz ◽

Dominique Brossard ◽

Paul Rozin

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

The United States ◽

Genetically Engineered ◽

Natural Food ◽

Human Intervention ◽

Positive View ◽

Minimal Contact ◽

Foreign Dna ◽

Genetically Engineered Food

Genetically engineered food has had its DNA, RNA, or proteins manipulated by intentional human intervention. We provide an overview of the importance and regulation of genetically engineered food and lay attitudes toward it. We first discuss the pronaturalness context in the United States and Europe that preceded the appearance of genetically engineered food. We then review the definition, prevalence, and regulation of this type of food. Genetically engineered food is widespread in some countries, but there is great controversy worldwide among individuals, governments, and other institutions about the advisability of growing and consuming it. In general, life scientists have a much more positive view of genetically engineered food than laypeople. We examine the bases of lay opposition to genetically engineered food and the evidence for how attitudes change. Laypeople tend to see genetically engineered food as dangerous and offering few benefits. We suggest that much of the lay opposition is morally based. One possibility is that, in some contexts, people view nature and naturalness as sacred and genetically engineered food as a violation of naturalness. We also suggest that for many people these perceptions of naturalness and attitudes toward genetically engineered food follow the sympathetic magical law of contagion, in which even minimal contact between a natural food and an unnatural entity, either a scientist or a piece of foreign DNA, pollutes or contaminates the natural entity and renders it unacceptable or even immoral to consume.

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