By Blake Jackson
A recent study from the University of Kentucky's Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment has shed light on how corn rootworms, a significant pest causing billions of dollars in losses annually, survive winter.
The research, published in Current Research in Insect Science, examines the mechanisms behind the insect's ability to endure cold winters, known as diapause.
The study, supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the U.S. National Science Foundation, identified genetic mechanisms that regulate diapause, a process similar to hibernation.
"It’s incredible if you think about it-this tiny embryo in the soil essentially locks in place, waiting for spring," said Nicholas Teets, an associate professor in the Department of Entomology. "When the conditions improve in spring, it picks up where it left off and hatches right around the time corn roots are available."
Diapause involves the insect's eggs remaining dormant in the soil for about nine months, during which energy-costly processes are reduced, and protective functions are boosted.
"There’s really two parts to this research," Teets said. "First, we’re interested in the basic science, how insects survive winter through diapause. Secondly, we’re focused on the economic side, because corn rootworms cause significant annual losses, and diapause is a big reason they’re so hard to control."
Understanding how corn rootworms synchronize their lifecycle with corn planting through diapause could lead to improved pest-management strategies.
While the current research doesn't provide immediate in-field solutions, it lays the groundwork for future developments. "This discovery doesn’t immediately change what farmers do in the field," Teets added, "But it could lead to new tools in the long run."
Potential long-term implications include developing laboratory strains that skip or reduce the diapause phase, speeding up research on insecticides and genetic controls. Genetic data from the study could also pave the way for "gene knockdown" technology, disrupting the rootworms' ability to withstand winter.
The adaptability of corn rootworms, including extended diapause in some regions, poses a significant challenge for farmers.
"It’s amazing how adaptable rootworms can be," Teets said. "That kind of flexibility means farmers need new solutions, and our genetic data could be a step toward those solutions."
Photo Credit: gettyimages-awakr10
Categories: Kentucky, Crops, Corn