Control efficacy of Bt‐Cry1Ab maize (event DBN9936) against Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) in Sichuan Province, China

The Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée), is a major pest restricting maize production in Asia. The Chinese government has approved the commercial planting of Bt-Cry1Ab maize (event DBN9936), but its control potential against the ACB in southern regions remains unclear. This study evaluated the sensitivity of ACB to Cry1Ab protein expressed in Bt-Cry1Ab maize and determined the control efficacy of Bt-Cry1Ab maize against the ACB in Sichuan Province, a major maize-producing region in southern China, based on pilot planting in the field, and larval feeding bioassays in the field and laboratory.