Field Evidence of Bt Corn and Mytotoxin Reduction

Bt corn’s primary benefit is insect pest protection. Field evidence supports the fact that an important secondary benefit is that of reducing mycotoxin concentrations, because of the relationship between insect pest damage and fungal colonization. Felicia Wu reports in the February issue of the ISB News Report that “the currently available varieties of Bt corn have shown strong evidence in field conditions worldwide of having significantly lower fumonisin levels than non-Bt isolines."

Wu adds that there is also limited evidence for lower levels of Deoxynivalenol (DON, or vomitoxin), the most common mycotoxin in cereals, and zearalenone in Bt corn. “More extensive work on aflatoxin reduction in Bt corn has yielded mixed results, but new varieties of Bt corn that may be commercialized soon are likely to have a more significant impact on aflatoxin levels. Hence, Bt corn is an important potential tool for mycotoxin control, both in the US and in other nations", Wu concludes.

For the complete article download http://www.isb.vt.edu/news/2008/feb08.pdf