2015
Development of genetic, chemical and population-based tactics to manage key Kansas soybean insect pests
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Contributor/Checkoff:
Kansas Soybean Commission
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
GeneticsGenomics
Parent Project:
Development of soybean host plant resistance and other management options for the soybean stem borer
Lead Principal Investigator:
C Michael Smith, Kansas State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Brian McCornack, Kansas State University
William Schapaugh, Kansas State University
Jeff Whitworth, Kansas State University
+2 More
Project Code:
1426
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Kansas Soybean Commission
(n/a)
Institution Funded:
Kansas State University
(n/a)
Brief Project Summary:

Infestations of the soybean stem borer were first reported in 1985 and severity ratings have increased in approximately 30% of Kansas counties. Expansion may be due to reduced availability of alternate host plants, increased larvae winter survival, increased soybean acreage, or increased adoption of non-tillage practices. Project objectives are to create soybeans resistant by inserting borer RNA into soybeans to interfere with borer survival; improve insecticide efficacy by using host plant and other environment cues to adjust application timing and placement; and to expand outreach materials.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, entomologists, extension specialists, breeders

Information And Results
Final Project Results

Update:

View uploaded report Word file

Field data from the 2014 growing season indicate that PI165673 plants reduce numbers of larvae entering stems, but surviving larva still tunnel into ~40 % of PI165673 stems. Varieties with PI165673 resistance will need to be accompanied by other management methods to prevent stem tunneling and girdling. Research continues to modify methods that exist in the Department of Entomology at K-State to inject or larvae with RNA interference (RNAi) particles that kill larvae before they girdle the stem. When comparing cumulative beetle days (i.e., season-long pressure of adults infesting soybean), there was a weak correlation between adult densities and larval infestations from the previous year. In other words, adults were higher in sweep counts in areas that were heavily infested with larvae. The protein marker data will provide more insight into how much adults are moving from these overwinter areas within a field.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.