BT Corn

Genetically modified to resist

damage from the ECB and Asian
corn borer
For 8,000 years, corn has been
a staple in the diet of livestock
and humans alike. Next to rice,
corn is the second most
important crop in the
Philippines with yellow corn
accounting for 70% of livestock
mixed feeds.

 Domestic demand,
however, cannot be met
due to the extensive
damage by the Asian corn
borer. The introduction of Bt
corn MON 810 in the
Philippines in December
2002 may well be a
glimpse into the past and
future possibilities of crop
biotechnology.

The Bt corn has a certain gene

from a naturally-occurring soil
bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis
(Bt) var. kurstaki, which
became popular for its pest
control abilities. This gene
codes for a delta-endotoxin,
which when eaten by a
specific target insect such as
the Asian corn borer and other
lepidopteran pests, disrupts
the insect’s digestive system by
developing lethal holes on the
insect’s mid-gut.

 Concepts on BIOTECHNOLOGY
GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS = TRANSGENICS
(GMOs)
Products developed through genetic engineering.
 What are GMOs?
These are products developed through genetic engineering
and are also known as transgenic crops.

Bacillus thuringiensis or Bt corn is an example of a GMO. It

is a new type of corn with Bt gene that controls corn borer,
a very destructive pest. Planting Bt corn results to higher
yield, less exposure to and application of pesticides like
Furadan, lower farm inputs, and cleaner grains. Thus Bt
corn is a better option for our farmers.
 THE PROBLEM
A number of pests plant their larvae into the corn stalk. The
larvae hatch and becomes caterpillars. Caterpillars then eat
the corn as they grow and mature.

© 2012 Nature Education a, c, d photos courtesy of Marlin Rice, b photo courtesy of Gary Munkvold. All rights reserved.
 THE MILLION DOLLAR BUG
The European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) was named the million dollar bug
because it cost growers over a billion dollars annually in insecticides and lost
crop yields.

 Scientist inspecting maize roots from (a) non-Bt

maize hybrid, (b) Bt maize hybrid, (c) rootworm
larva (white arrow) feeding on maize root, and (d)
adult western corn rootworm.
© 2012 Nature Education Photos (a), (d) courtesy of Marlin Rice; Photo (b) courtesy of John Tollefson. All rights reserved.
TERMINOLOGIES
HERBICIDE TOLERANCE
Crop can withstand herbicide applications.

INSECT TOLERANCE
Plants produces toxin to kill pest.

IMPROVED NUTRITION
Plant produces a substance of nutritive value
or is changed to not produce an anti-nutrient.
 DISEASE RESISTANT
Crop is resistant to certain disease.

STRESS TOLERANCE
Crop is tolerant of stress, low nutrient levels or excess
nutrients.

INCREASED STORAGE
Crop can be stored longer to avoid spoilage losses.

MEDICINAL USES
Crops that produce vaccines.

INDUSTRIAL USES
Crops to make efficient industries.
What is BT corn?
BT Corn is a type of genetically modified organism.
BT stands for the term Bacillus thuringiensis.
Bacillus thuringiensis
is a species of
bacteria that
produces proteins that
are toxic to certain
insects. This bacteria
is found in soil
naturally.
The commercialization and other related developments
of biotech corn spans seven years of rigid scientific
study and evaluation, with both the public and private
sectors involved in R&D, and in the conduct of a
transparent science-based debate.

Corn can be
genetically
engineered to
produce these
specific toxins.
Bt corn has
resistance traits,
which at high
levels, reduce the
damage from
those pesky
insects.
Global area by crop
2001 and 2002: (million hectares)
 Global area (Industrial vs
Developing)
2001 and 2002: (million hectares)

Please note from this table that the commercial plantings are not confined to
developed countries only. The developing countries like Argentina, China, and
Indonesia have commercially adopted this technology as well.

Since the Monsanto-developed MON 810 was designed

to produce a protein toxic to the European corn borer
(Ostrinia nubilalis), it was necessary to determine if it
would also work with the Asiatic corn borer (ACB)
(Ostrinia furnacalis). Monsanto’s subsidiary, Cargill
Philippines collaborated with the Institute of Plant
Breeding of UPLB and sought the approval of the NCBP
to study the efficacy of MON 810 against the ACB under
screen house conditions.

The study demonstrated the corn line’s effectiveness and

further study was made to verify its efficacy under field
conditions. The chosen experimental farm was a 500
square meter area in General Santos City, South
Cotabato. The limited confined field test provided
ample data to merit approval by the NCBP to conduct a
two-season multi-locational confined field test for MON
810 to establish its efficacy against the ACB and other
Lepidopterans under varying climatic conditions.

 The multi-locational field tests enabled the generation

of important local data which Monsanto submitted with
its MON 810 dossier to the BPI in October 2002. After a
series of reviews done by several government agencies
and a DA-designated scientific and technical panel
composed of three scientists and the BPI director, MON
810 became the first biotech crop to be approved for
propagation, direct use for food and feed, and for
processing in the Philippines.

STATUS OF PHILIPPINE
TRANSGENIC CROPS Commercialization
• Corn resistant to Asiatic
corn borer
Field Test
• Rice resistant to bacterial
blight
• Corn resistant to Asiatic
corn borer
 Judicious and safe applications
of biotechnology in agriculture
and natural resources could
increase farmer’s income, provide
better and safer products to
consumers and lessen
dependence on chemicals
destructive to the environment…

HENCE, BIOTECHNOLOGY IS A
VIABLE OPTION.
 REFERENCE:
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Providing Options for Philippine Agriculture
Revised: June 2003

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