Insect Resistant Maize: Implications for Ear and Stalk Diseases

The evolution of genetically modified crops took a major step in the mid-1990s with the approval and commercial release of insect-resistant maize hybrids with transgenes derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt maize). The release of Bt maize was met with great enthusiasm by many researchers and crop managers because of its ability to very effectively control European corn borers and other lepidopteran insects without the use of foliar insecticides. Crop producers and the agricultural industry rapidly accepted the technology and began to incorporate it into their crop production practices. But recently, controversy over production and use of genetically modified crop cultivars has focused a great deal of public attention on Bt maize. A number of organizations and individuals have raised questions about the safety and ethics of Bt maize production, despite EPA and FDA approvals that consider environmental impact, food safety, nontarget effects, and pest resistance. The controversy has been fueled largely by the reluctance of European consumers to accept genetically modified crops. Although Bt technology has fairly obvious benefits for maize producers and biotechnology companies, some consumers have found it difficult to perceive the consumer benefits of Bt technology. In the current atmosphere surrounding Bt maize production, the need for investigation into all potential risks and benefits of Bt technology is more critical than ever. Approval by EPA and FDA carries with it assurance that these products are safe, but additional data may be needed so consumers can make informed choices and convey their preferences to policymakers. One aspect of risk/benefit analysis is the influence that Bt technology may have on maize diseases and mycotoxin-producing fungi in maize. Because the fungi that produce mycotoxins in maize are frequently associated with insect damage to the plants, insect control has the potential to reduce