Columbus, Ohio
December 10, 2007
Transgenic corn hybrids are
becoming more prominent in Ohio
State University Corn Performance Trials.
Of the 237 entries evaluated in this year's trials, 84 percent
carried transgenic traits. That's 25 percent more than what was
evaluated in last year's trials.
Transgenics is the science of introducing a gene from one
organism or plant into the genome of another organism or plant.
In crop production, Bt corn to control European corn borer and
rootworm, and Round-Up Ready corn and soybeans for enhanced weed
control would be examples of transgenics.
Peter Thomison, an Ohio State University Extension agronomist,
said that the large number of transgenic hybrids evaluated in
the trials indicate that most corn hybrids will contain one or
more Bt and/or herbicide resistance traits in the future.
"Five years ago, less than 15 percent of the hybrids we
evaluated in our performance trials were transgenic," said
Thomison, who also holds an Ohio Agricultural Research and
Development Center appointment. Now it's more than one-third.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, over 40 percent
of Ohio's 2007 corn crop consisted of biotech varieties, 15
percent more than last year. Of the various traited corn hybrid
types -- insect resistant, herbicide resistant, and stacked
genes -- farmers grew more stacked gene (multi-transgenic trait)
hybrids, increasing their acreage by 15 percent over last year.
The trials, conducted by Ohio State University Extension, are
designed to evaluate corn hybrids based on a variety of
performance characteristics, such as yield potential, percent
moisture, stalk lodging, emergence and test weights of the
grain. The results help growers select hybrids that not only
yield well, but can also withstand a variety of environmental
factors and growing conditions.
In this year's trials, transgenic hybrids received high marks,
especially in regards to high yields.
"Overall, triple-stacked hybrids generated the highest yields,"
said Thomison. "Eight of the top 10 yield hybrids are
triple-stacked hybrids, one is a double-stack, and one contains
a single trait."
However, stacked traits did not necessarily ensure the highest
yields, said Thomison.
"Of the bottom 10 hybrids, nine are triple-stacked hybrids and
one is a double stack," said Thomison. "This means that hybrids
will perform differently, based on region, soils and
environmental conditions, and growers should not rely solely on
one hybrid characteristic or transgenic traits to make their
product selection."
A detailed breakdown of hybrids evaluated in this year's trial,
by characteristic and region, can be found by logging on to
www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/corntrials/.
The Ohio State University Soybean Performance Trials, which
serve the same purpose as the corn performance trials, are also
available.
Nearly 30 percent of the entries evaluated have the ideal
Phytophthora-resistant package, and less than 15 percent show
low levels of partial resistance, said Anne Dorrance, an OARDC
plant pathologist.
"This is the highest proportion of entries in Ohio's performance
trials with effective levels of partial resistance since 1997,"
said Dorrance, who also holds an OSU Extension appointment.
"Partial resistance will provide protection in all fields, in
that it is effective against all races. It works by reducing the
amount of root tissue that Phytophthora sojae can infect and
never causes the stem rot phase."
Results of the soybean performance trails can be found by
logging on to
www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/soy2007/. |
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