Herculex® XTRA Trait in DuPont Genetics Outperforms YieldGard® VT Triple in University Study

AuguDES MOINES.- Research conducted by the University of Illinois shows that Pioneer® brand corn hybrids with Herculex® XTRA traits were significantly better at protecting corn roots than hybrids with the YieldGard ® VT Triple trait under very high rootworm pressure.

In University of Illinois trials in 2006 and 2007, Pioneer hybrids with the Herculex XTRA trait showed consistent, excellent protection against corn rootworm. The products were developed by Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business.

“The University of Illinois research results confirm that in Pioneer hybrids, Herculex XTRA is The Better Bt™,” DuPont Vice President and General Manager and President of Pioneer Dean Oestreich said. “Pioneer hybrids with the Herculex XTRA trait provide proven, excellent protection to corn roots. Growers can plant hybrids with the Herculex XTRA trait and feel confident that this will protect corn roots, regardless of the level of rootworm pressure.”

The University of Illinois results match other studies conducted this season by Pioneer Agronomy Sciences across 16 locations throughout the Corn Belt, showing Pioneer hybrids with the Herculex XTRA trait consistently provide excellent rootworm control in all pressure levels better than or equal to other in-plant corn rootworm traits.

In addition, these studies show that the Pioneer hybrids with the Herculex XTRA trait provide consistent results in protecting corn roots from rootworm damage regardless of rootworm pressure under a range of growing conditions. This complements studies done in previous years showing consistent, excellent protection from the Herculex XTRA trait against corn rootworms.

The University of Illinois trials, released in its newsletter dated Friday, August 17, 2007, evaluated a variety of corn rootworm management technologies including in-plant biotech traits, insecticide seed treatments, and granular and liquid insecticides. All were compared to unprotected checks. Test results were released from Monmouth, DeKalb and Urbana, Ill.

In the Urbana, Ill., location, Pioneer hybrids with Herculex XTRA insect protection provided superior protection to DeKalb® brand hybrids with the YieldGard® VT Triple trait. Pioneer® hybrid 33T59 with the Herculex® XTRA trait had a root rating of 0.49, significantly better than the DeKalb product DKC61-69 with the YieldGard VT Triple trait that rated 0.84. The check hybrids had root ratings as high as 2.86, showing very high corn rootworm infestation. Evaluations were based on a 0-3 root node injury scale.

In 2007 Pioneer trials, Pioneer hybrids with the Herculex XTRA trait also showed a significant difference between it and competitors in high corn rootworm pressure situations. In a study in Readlyn, Iowa, root ratings for Pioneer hybrids with the Herculex XTRA trait were 0.34, while DeKalb hybrids with the YieldGard Plus trait were 0.80 and Northrup King® hybrids with the Syngenta Agrisure® RW trait were 1.47. The check corn hybrids at the Readlyn site averaged 2.65, indicating high pressure.

In the remaining Pioneer trials, Pioneer hybrids with the Herculex XTRA trait showed consistent and excellent results.

Herculex® XTRA protection is a combination of Herculex® RW and Herculex® I traits for the broadest in-plant insect protection in the industry. In addition to defending the plant by controlling western, northern and Mexican corn rootworm, Herculex XTRA helps protect against European and southwestern corn borer, western bean cutworm, black cutworm and fall armyworm.

“Pioneer customers can be assured that the traits and the high yielding genetics offered in Pioneer products have been tested across a broad range of geographies and under a variety of growing conditions,” Oestreich said. “The Pioneer focus is to bring the greatest value to each acre of land with the latest technologies and greatest choices, year after year after year.”