October 6, 2005

US's DuPont granted approval on new gene trait for corn

The US Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency, recently granted corn seed giant DuPont approval to commercialise its new gene trait for corn, known as Herculex RW.

Herculex RW was developed to resist corn rootworms, which cost US farmers about US$1 billion annually in losses.

The new gene trait would replace conventional methods of controlling corn rootworm, such as granular or liquid insecticides applied at planting, and more recent insecticide seed treatments. 

This latest trait developed by DuPont followed the company's earlier commercialisation of Herculex I, which was resistant to corn borers and the herbicide glufosinate.