[Image: sugarcane borer causing damage to corn plant]Field corn and small grains represent substantial acreage and contribute significant crop value to agriculture in Louisiana – with more than 1 million acres and $553 million in value for 2008.
Managing insect pests to optimize production and economic returns, therefore, become important considerations, so a team of LSU AgCenter researchers are doing just that.
"Driven by increased demand in the world market, Louisiana crop growers will continue to plant substantial acreage of corn and small-grain crops," said Dr. Fangneng Huang, one of those researchers, stressing, however, "Compared to other regions of the United States, the weather conditions and complex agricultural ecosystems in Louisiana create a unique environment that results in development of significant pest infestations of corn and small-grain crops."
With the support from Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board, Huang and fellow LSU AgCenter scientist Dr. Roger Leonard are conducting field and laboratory studies to develop environmentally benign strategies to: manage stalk-boring pests on corn and grain sorghum; ensure the long-term success of Bt corn technology in Louisiana; provide information to develop strategies for managing corn pests Moodna bisinuella and pink corn worms; and identify grain sorghum varieties that are relatively resistant/tolerant to sugarcane borer damage.
"Our research projects will continue to address the primary insect pests in field corn and grain sorghum," Huang said, explaining the anticipated release of newer Bt corn technology will play into the complex mix of pest management.
"The corn borer population structure in Louisiana is unique compared to the other states," Huang said, explaining, "In Louisiana, the sugarcane borer is the dominant corn borer species, while the European corn borer and the southwestern corn borer are the most economically important for most other states.
"Information to support the use of the new Bt corn technologies for controlling Louisiana corn borers is needed."
An effective resistance-monitoring program has been developed by LSU AgCenter scientists and used successfully for detecting sugarcane borer resistance to Bt, but Huang said, "Annual surveys of Bt resistance in the sugarcane borer are needed to ensure the long-team success of Bt corn technology for managing corn borer problems in Louisiana."
In addition, the LSU AgCenter scientists also are working on management strategies for two lepidopteran insects that have become common in Louisiana corn fields. One is a relatively new species, Moodna bisinuella, and another is an "old" pest, the pink corn worm.
"Both insects feed on corn ears and could have potential to be destructive to Louisiana corn production," Huang said, adding, "During the 2008 growing season, nearly 100 percent of non-Bt corn ears in some central Louisiana fields were infested with pink corn worms. Notable damage by this pest was also observed on some newly released Bt corn hybrids."
The scientists also are seeking new strategies for managing sugarcane borers on grain sorghum, since effective insecticides are not available.
"Our recent studies showed significant differences among sorghum varieties in response to sugarcane borer damage," Huang said. "Host plant resistance/tolerance may be an option for managing SCB on sorghum."
Finally, the scientists are conducting field studies to develop effective strategies for managing the emerging problems of Hessian fly for Louisiana wheat producers. During 2008-2009 crop seasons, they have identified several potential wheat varieties with high levels of resistance to Louisiana populations of Hessian fly. They will continue to evaluate the use of resistant wheat varieties and chemical control strategies for managing Hessian fly in Louisiana during the 2009-2010 crop seasons. –Tom Merrill
Checkoff funds for these projects: $37,000