Flavonoids Help Protect Crops Against Corn Earworm

Researchers at Penn State University demonstrated that some genetic lines of corn contain high levels of flavonoids that protect them from damage by corn earworm larvae. Corn earworm larvae cause significant crop loss in corn, but both a genetically engineered corn and a conventionally bred corn high in flavanoids caused corn earworm larvae to grow much more slowly, with many of them dying. “This research is important because it may be an early step toward the development of corn lines resistant to insect pests ideal for organic production,” said research team leader Surinder Chopra. “These findings, which suggest a novel option for integrated pest management for corn earworm larvae, show that high-flavonoid maize has the potential to be used in a breeding program to develop specialty corn lines tolerant of multiple insect pests.” Scientists note that more research is needed before they can work on developing flavonoid-producing corn lines for organic farmers that could also protect against other insects.