Resistant management of Bt corn and sustainability in Italy

Abstract.

The Resistant Management (RM) of Bt corn in US requires 20% refuge area planted with non transgenic maize to preserve susceptible individuals of the pest. In Europe, especially in Italy, different considerations are necessary when RM plans are to be applied. In fact, when determining the size of the refuge areas other aspects around the transgenic corn, such as the surface of co-existing plans and other crops, must be considered. ECB is a polyphagous insect and its biology must be taken into account in the RM, especially in Italy where several crops and natural areas exist close to each other, and where field surfaces are clearly smaller than in the US. An important aspect of RM is the determination of whether there is any possibility that alternative ECB host plants, agrarian and spontaneous species, could act as refuge areas, and to calculate how much these areas can contribute to the RM. Considerations will be made of the practical and economical aspects of the application of refuge areas and the co-existing measures to be taken in Italy.