A kind of transgenic maize with resistance to disease and insect benefits common maize

According to a report published in the new issue of science, a genetically modified corn widely planted in the Midwest of the United States also benefits the cultivation of ordinary corn, resulting in economic losses of hundreds of millions of dollars per year At present, about 63% of the corn planted in the United States is Bt transgenic corn, which has been introduced into the United States since 1996 It can express the protein from Bacillus thuringiensis, which can kill a variety of pests Professor William Hutchison of the University of Minnesota and others analyzed the impact of Bt transgenic corn on the European corn borer, a destructive pest accidentally introduced into the Midwest of the United States in 1917 The researchers said that the European corn borer can't distinguish Bt transgenic corn from ordinary corn Therefore, the female may lay eggs in both corn fields Once the larvae hatched from the eggs of transgenic corn feed on corn leaves, they will die within 24 to 48 hours The researchers found that the widespread cultivation of Bt Transgenic Maize in the Midwest of the United States significantly reduced the population of European corn borer, making the planting of transgenic maize and common maize benefit from the reduction of pests Data shows that in the past 14 years, the European corn borer population in three central and western states of Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin has decreased by 28% to 73%, resulting in the loss of about 3.2 billion US dollars in avoided pesticide spraying and production reduction, and the loss of about 3.6 billion US dollars in Iowa and Nebraska due to the same reasons The researchers said their study did not analyze other important crops in the Midwest, such as sweet corn, potatoes and green beans, affected by the European corn borer, but that the cultivation of these crops is likely to benefit from the decline in the European corn borer population.