Writer: Blair Fannin, (979) 845-2259,b-fannin@tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Cloyce Coffman, (979) 845-0877,c-coffman@tamu.edu
COLLEGE STATION - Corn producers in the High Plains region should keep in mind a few guidelines before planting the spring corn crop following recent controversy involving Starlink corn.
“We want to emphasize verification of corn seed being tested before planting,” said Dr. Cloyce Coffman, an agronomist with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. “Verify before you buy’ is the quote the National Corn Growers are using. After verification, take all precautions possible to eliminate potential volunteer Starlink from last year to germinate this year and produce pollen.”
Starlink corn contains a protein called “Cry9c” that enables the corn plant to protect itself against the European Corn Borer. Aventis CropSciences’ Cry9c protein was contained in several corn hybrids sold in the 2000 season. Corn hybrids containing the Starlink Cry9c germplasm were originally approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in animal feed, but not for use in human food due to concerns about the possibility that Cry9c might be allergenic.
The Starlink corn germplasm has been withdrawn from the market and is no longer available for sale to corn producers. The federal government purchased all grain from the 2000 corn fields last winter. Any seed contaminated with the Starlink corn germplasm this spring was also removed from the market.
Last fall, Starlink contamination was found in human food products, whicwh led to the withdrawal of corn chips and tortillas from grocer shelves. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is currently evaluating claims that Starlink corn has caused an allergic reaction in a small number of people who have eaten corn products, such as taco shells.
Additional Cry9c contamination was found in corn seed being prepared for sale this spring. Immediate action was taken by seedsmen to test all of their seed lots to verify whether other lots were contaminated by Starlink.
Coffman suggests producers follow these guidelines:
– Request and obtain verification the corn seed purchased for this season does not contain any Cry9c.
– If volunteer corn in the field this season is suspected to be from Cry9c seed source of last year’s crop, choose one of the following options to destroy these volunteers, or otherwise prevent them from pollinating and producing grain this season.
– Rotate the field to some crop other than corn and use appropriate herbicides to destroy the volunteer corn.
– Plant an herbicide-resistant corn hybrid that allows elimination of the Cry9c volunteers.
– Isolate corn plantings from adjacent fields where Cry9c sources may contaminate this year’s crop through pollen drift.
– Take care to avoid contamination in harvesting, transporting and/or handling corn grain by judicious cleaning of combines, grain carts, trucks, grain bins, augers or other handling equipment.
– Check immediately with likely purchasers of corn grain regarding policies and conditions of purchase.
– Carefully check the language carefully in any contractual statement to be signed.
– Use caution in responding orally, or in writing, regarding the crop to be merchandised.
For more information about Starlink corn, go to the following Web sites:
http://cropwatch.unl.edu/Starlink.htm
http://www.exnet.iastate.edu/Pages/grain/gmo/gmo.html
http://www.ncga.com/11biotechnology/main/index.html
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