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C.O.R.N
Newsletter
2009-03
February 3, 2009 -
February 17, 2009
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Are non-transgenic corn hybrids a viable alternative to stacked trait hybrids?
by
Peter Thomison, Rich Minyo, Allen Geyer
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As was noted in a December 2008 newsletter article, transgenic corn hybrids are now the most widely grown hybrids in Ohio. According to the USDA-Economic Research Service (http://www.ers.usda.gov/data/biotechcrops/) in 2008, two thirds of the state’s corn acreage was planted to transgenic corn hybrids with 37% of total acreage planted to stacked trait hybrids, 17% to herbicide tolerant hybrids, and 12% to some type of Bt hybrid. It appears likely that in the near future that the availability of non-transgenic corn hybrids will be limited and that acreage of non-transgenics corn will continue to decline. However, many corn growers in Ohio (in 2008 one third of the corn acreage was non-transgenic) are still interested in growing non-transgenic corns. Some of these growers want to take advantage of the premiums offered for non-GMO corn (about $0.50 or more per bushel) and others want to grow non-GMO corn to reduce seed and herbicide costs associated with traited corn. Growers who have not experienced serious problems with rootworm and corn borer and who have controlled weeds effectively with traditional herbicide programs question the need for transgenic hybrids. Non-GMO corn producers cite increasing difficulties locating non-transgenic corn hybrids and are concerned that the yield potential of non transgenic corn hybrids is lower than that of transgenic corns especially stacked trait hybrids.
These concerns are understandable since there has been a perception among some growers that stacked trait corn hybrids are higher yielding irrespective of insect pest pressure. A frequent comment I’ve heard is “stacked trait hybrids are doing more for us than protecting yields.” One explanation for this perception is that some seed companies are no longer developing non-transgenic versions of certain hybrids. So, when a new high yielding hybrid is introduced it’s only available with stacked traits and certain single traits (e.g. a glyphosate resistant version). As a consequence, some believe that in order to optimize yields with the newest “genetics” you need to plant stacked trait corn hybrids. Another explanation for the perception is that the gene stacking itself enhances yields. Different genetic backgrounds respond differently to insertion of transgenes. Yields of some transgenic hybrids are lower than the non traited isogenic hybrid whereas others are higher. I’m unaware of any research indicating stacking traits per se increases yield.
In 2008, nearly all the hybrids entered in the Ohio Corn Performance Test (OCPT) contained one or more transgenic traits with over 60% of the entries containing three or more traits. In order to provide non-GMO corn producers with information on the performance of non-transgenic corn relative to that of transgenic hybrids, we asked seed companies entering the OCPT for non-transgenic hybrids that we could include in the 2008 regional tests. A total of 18 non-transgenic hybrids were evaluated in addition to 214 transgenic corn hybrids. At the eight test locations across Ohio (with three sites in the Southwest/West Central region, two in the Northwest region and three in the Northcentral/Northeast region) average grain yields of transgenic and non-transgenic hybrids in the early maturity tests differed by 2 to 14 bu/A with the transgenic hybrids showing a slightly higher yield at only one of the eight sites; average grain yields of transgenic and non-transgenic in the full season maturity tests differed by 1 to 12 bu/A with the transgenics showing higher yields at four of the eight sites. Differences in stalk lodging between the transgenic and non-transgenic hybrids at the eight test sites were negligible. A comparison of average OCPT plot yields of the non-transgenic hybrids with that of hybrids containing one or more events (16 different events and combinations of events) revealed that the non-transgenic corn yielded as well as most events and better than some.
One of the seed companies participating in the 2008 OCPT, provided us with two non-transgenic hybrids (a 109- and a 110-day hybrid). In addition, they provided six different “versions” of these two hybrids each containing one or more transgenic traits - Roundup Ready (RR), Yield Gard (YG) corn borer (CB) Bt, RR+YGCB, “YG Plus” (CB + root worm or RW+Bt), RR+YGPlus, and YGVT3. We compared the performance of these hybrids at seven OCPT sites to determine effects of transgenic traits on agronomic performance under different growing conditions. Yields of the 110-day hybrids, (yields averaged across the seven isogenic hybrids and seven test sites) were 26 bu/A greater than that of the 109-day hybrids. However, yields, averaged across test locations, were not significantly different among the isogenic hybrids. Yields of non-transgenic hybrid yielded as well as the stacked corn hybrids. At two of the seven test sites, there were significant differences among the 109-day isogenic hybrids for stalk lodging with hybrids containing RR+YGPlus, and YGVT3 showing significantly greater stalk lodging (51% and 64%, respectively) compared to the non-transgenic hybrid (6%). These differences in stalk lodging were not present for the 110-day hybrids.
Results of the 2008 OCPT and isogenic corn hybrid evaluations suggest that non- transgenic (non-GMO hybrids) are available that will yield competitively with many transgenic corn hybrids, including stacked trait hybrids, in the absence of corn borer and rootworm pressure. Growers interested in identifying high yielding hybrids for non-GMO grain production should consider accessing the Ohio Corn Performance Test website http://oardc.osu.edu/corntrials/. Once a region or test location is selected, the sort feature under “Traits” can be used to find “NON-GMO” hybrids.
AND as a follow up to last issue’s listing of seed companies (http://corn.osu.edu/story.php?setissueID=279&storyID=1654) with available non-GMO soybean seed, here are two additions: Contract acres and seed are available from HAPI-O in Marysville, Ohio, contact is 937-644-8215. Pioneer has limited quantities of non-GMO varieties, contact your seed representative.
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Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.
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