University Research Trials Demonstrate Superior Performance of Herculex Products on Key Above-Ground Pests

Black Cutworm (BCW) damage in Iowa
(2006). Hybrids with Herculex I
Insect Protection (right) controlled BCW
while the non-Herculex refuge (left) was
severely damage and required replanting.

The Western Bean Cutworm (WBCW) has continued to expand eastward in the Corn Belt during 2006, with new reports of adult moths found as far east as Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. Major larval outbreaks and ear damage were reported throughout the Corn Belt, particularly in Iowa and Nebraska. Timing of insecticide rescue treatments for WBCW is difficult and often results in failure to control economically damaging populations. However, corn hybrids with Herculex^® I and Herculex^® XTRA Insect Protection offer in-plant, “peace of mind” protection without the need for insecticide applications. Herculex I and Herculex XTRA are the only transgenic products labeled for WBCW.

In a field trial sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, data were collected from three grower strip trial locations in Iowa by Dr. Marlin Rice (Iowa State University). Hybrids with Herculex^® Insect Protection provided excellent protection and significantly lower levels of WBCW larval feeding damage when compared to hybrids with YieldGard^® Corn Borer. These results confirmed Dow AgroSciences 2005 internal field trial results, which also showed Herculex I to provide superior protection over YieldGard Corn Borer against this emerging pest.

Outbreaks of Black Cutworm (BCW) larval damage on seedling corn were also more prevalent in the Corn Belt during 2006. However, many growers reported outstanding protection with Herculex I corn hybrids under heavy BCW pressure (see attached photo). These observations were validated by Dr. Bruce Eisley (The Ohio State University) who conducted a replicated field trial with a natural BCW infestation in South Charleston, Ohio. Results showed that hybrids with Herculex I and Herculex XTRA Insect Protection provided superior protection from BCW compared with hybrids with YieldGard Plus. YieldGard Plus did not provide significant protection from BCW.

Herculex XTRA also provides outstanding, consistent root protection against major species of corn rootworms and provides the broadest spectrum of corn in-plant protection.