Wednesday, November 7, 2007
274-9

Herculex� Family of Corn Insect Protection Traits: Commercial and Research Updates.

Ed King, Paul Neese, Michael Culy, and Gary Thompson. Dow AgroSciences, 9330 Zionsville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268

Dow AgroSciences LLC, through its affiliate Mycogen Seeds, and Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc have been working since 1995 to jointly develop novel biotech products for the control of insect pests of corn. In 2003, Herculex� I Insect Protection was the first product released for sale under the Herculex family of traits. Herculex I (event TC1507) expresses Cry1F insecticidal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strain aizawai, and provides broad-spectrum protection against above-ground lepidopterous pests of corn. Herculex XTRA is a combined trait product (developed through the use of conventional breeding) to bring together event TC1507 (Herculex I Insect Protection) and corn rootworm event DAS-59122-7 (expressing the Cry34Ab1 and Cry35Ab1 binary Bt protein) in corn hybrids. Herculex XTRA currently provides the broadest spectrum of in-plant insect protection. This poster will provide the latest updates on global commercialization, global registration and research on the Herculex family of traits.