July, 2012
Field Crops 28.33 - 94
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Corn Transgenic and Trait Technologies in UW Trials during 2012
Joe Lauer, Corn Agronomist
PDF version
The weather during 2012 is proving to be similar to other drought years like 1976,
1988, 1989 and 2005. Yields decreased during these years, except for the 2005 season
when record grain yields were recorded. A big difference between 2005 and previous
drought years was the presence of transgenic traits in corn hybrids, especially
Bt-ECB traits.
European corn borer and increased stalk tunneling damage is often associated with
drought stressed environments. Water transpiration cools important plant parts when
it is able to get to those structures. If ECB tunnels are present, water flow to
leaves and the ear is interrupted and surface temperature can increase along with
stress. Modern hybrids have a greater capacity to maintain the integrity of the
stalk for efficient water use. I often hear comments from farmers that "these hybrids
can withstand greater stress." However, when the water in the soil profile runs
out, it runs out regardless of whether or not it is transgenic.
The objective of the University of Wisconsin Corn Hybrid Performance Trials is to
provide unbiased performance comparisons of hybrid seed corn available in Wisconsin.
In 2012, a total of 510 corn hybrids are being evaluated in 53 experiments at 14
locations (Figure 1).
Below is a list of technologies included in the program with the corresponding number
of hybrids being evaluated in various zones and trials (Table 1.). These include
both transgenic and trait technologies. In the table below, an "_S" indicates a
silage trial for the region, while an "_ORG" indicates and organic trial. Leafy
and bmr traits are not listed.
New transgenic technologies include Optimum AcreMax Xtra. New native trait technologies
include Agrisure Artesian.
Table 1. List of transgenic and native trait technologies in the 2012 UW Corn Hybrid
Performance Trials.
|
Transgenic Technology
|
Trait Technology
|
N
|
N_S
|
NC
|
NC_ORG
|
NC_S
|
SC
|
SC_S
|
S
|
S_ORG
|
S_S
|
Total
|
|
Agrisure Viptera 3111
|
|
3
|
2
|
7
|
0
|
7
|
9
|
3
|
7
|
0
|
2
|
40
|
|
Agrisure 3000GT
|
|
12
|
10
|
26
|
0
|
14
|
12
|
13
|
23
|
0
|
8
|
118
|
|
Agrisure 3000GT
|
Agrisure Artesian
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
5
|
|
Agrisure CB/LL/RW
|
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
|
Agrisure GT
|
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
5
|
0
|
1
|
18
|
|
Agrisure GT/CB/LL
|
|
5
|
2
|
4
|
0
|
2
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
18
|
|
Conventional
|
|
4
|
3
|
6
|
13
|
13
|
9
|
14
|
12
|
17
|
11
|
102
|
|
DAS SmartStax
|
|
8
|
1
|
12
|
0
|
3
|
8
|
4
|
7
|
0
|
3
|
46
|
|
Genuity SmartStax
|
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
0
|
3
|
14
|
4
|
12
|
0
|
2
|
40
|
|
Genuity VT Double Pro
|
|
4
|
0
|
5
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
14
|
|
Genuity VT Triple Pro
|
|
13
|
2
|
51
|
0
|
18
|
40
|
14
|
36
|
0
|
18
|
192
|
|
Herculex I plus Roundup Ready Corn 2
|
|
6
|
2
|
8
|
0
|
3
|
13
|
3
|
11
|
0
|
1
|
47
|
|
Herculex XTRA
|
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
|
Herculex XTRA plus Roundup Ready Corn 2
|
|
3
|
1
|
5
|
0
|
4
|
4
|
7
|
3
|
0
|
11
|
38
|
|
Optimum AcreMax 1
|
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
12
|
|
Optimum AcreMax Xtra
|
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
7
|
|
Roundup Ready Corn 2
|
|
3
|
0
|
5
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
12
|
|
YieldGard VT Triple
|
|
4
|
1
|
13
|
0
|
4
|
13
|
6
|
10
|
0
|
6
|
57
|
|
Total
|
|
70
|
28
|
149
|
13
|
78
|
134
|
75
|
134
|
17
|
71
|
769
|
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* _S = Silage Trials
_ORG = Organic Trials
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Further Reading
Wisconsin Corn Hybrid Trials