The success of Bt corn for sugarcane borer management in the US: Is it a good indication for a stainable use of the biotech sugarcane to control the pest in South America?

Prior to 2010, the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis, was the predominant stalk boring pest of corn, grain sorghum, and rice in many areas of the mid-south region of the United States. Transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) was first commercially planted in 1999 in this region to control corn stalk borers. Since 2010, borer populations on the three crops have been maintained at very low levels with no chemical applications. The considerable reduction of stalk borer populations on these crops is most likely a result of the successful use of Bt corn in the region. Recently, transgenic Bt sugarcane has been commercially planted in Brazil to control D. saccharalis. Field performance of Bt sugarcane against D. saccharalis has been excellent. However, potential evolution of resistance in the pest is a great concern for the sustainable use of Bt sugarcane technology. In this presentation, we will analyze factors contributing to the success of Bt corn for stalk bore management in the US, compare parameters associated with resistance development between the crop-pest systems in the U.S. and Brazil, and assess if the long-term success of Bt corn for stalk borer management in the US is a good indication for a stainable use of the biotech sugarcane to control the pest in South America.