Molecular Soil Biology 2024, Vol.15, No.3, 140-150 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/msb 149 For maize growers and pest management practitioners, these findings underscore the importance of using soil insecticides as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy. While soil insecticides can provide immediate benefits in terms of reduced root damage and increased yield, reliance solely on chemical control can lead to resistance development. Therefore, it is crucial to incorporate other practices such as crop rotation, which has been shown to effectively keep WCR populations below damage thresholds without the need for insecticides. Additionally, the use of biological control agents like entomopathogenic nematodes has shown promise as a sustainable alternative to chemical insecticides, providing comparable efficacy in reducing WCR larval populations and enhancing maize yield. To ensure sustainable WCR management, it is recommended that maize growers adopt a multitactical approach that includes crop rotation, the use of biological control agents, and the judicious application of soil insecticides. This integrated approach can help mitigate the risk of resistance development and prolong the effectiveness of available control measures. Furthermore, ongoing research into new technologies such as RNA interference (RNAi) offers potential future solutions for WCR management, providing species-specific pest control with reduced environmental impact. By combining these strategies, maize growers can achieve effective and sustainable management of WCR, ensuring long-term productivity and profitability. Acknowledgments We are grateful to the two anonymous peer reviewers for their careful consideration and helpful comments on this manuscript. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Alford A., and Krupke C., 2018, A meta-analysis and economic evaluation of neonicotinoid seed treatments and other prophylactic insecticides in indiana maize from 2000-2015 with IPM recommendations, Journal of Economic Entomology, 111(2): 689-699. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/tox379 Bažok R., Lemić D., Chiarini F., and Furlan L., 2021, Western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) in Europe: current status and sustainable pest management, Insects, 12(3): 195. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12030195 Blandino M., Ferracini C., Rigamonti I., Testa G., Saladini M., Jucker C., Agosti M., Alma A., and Reyneri A., 2017, Control of western corn rootworm damage by application of soil insecticides at different maize planting times, Crop Protection, 93: 19-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CROPRO.2016.11.006 Clair C., Norris E., Masloski K., Coats J., and Gassmann A., 2020, Evaluation of pyrethroids and organophosphates in insecticide mixtures for management of western corn rootworm larvae, Pest Management Science, 76(11): 3871-3878. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.5938 Darlington M., Reinders J., Sethi A., Lu A., Ramaseshadri P., Fischer J., Boeckman C., Petrick J., Roper J., Narva K., and Vélez A., 2022, RNAi for western corn rootworm management: lessons learned, challenges, and future directions, Insects, 13(1): 57. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13010057 Devos Y., Meihls L., Kiss J., and Hibbard B., 2013, Resistance evolution to the first generation of genetically modified Diabrotica-active Bt-maize events by western corn rootworm: management and monitoring considerations, Transgenic Research, 22: 269-299. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-012-9657-4 Disi J., Kloepper J., and Fadamiro H., 2018, Seed treatment of maize with Bacillus pumilus strain INR-7 affects host location and feeding by Western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, Journal of Pest Science, 91: 515-522. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-017-0927-z Ferracini C., Blandino M., Rigamonti I., Jucker C., Busato E., Saladini M., Reyneri A., and Alma A., 2021, Chemical-based strategies to control the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, Crop Protection, 139: 105306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2020.105306 Fishilevich E., Vélez A., Storer N., Li H., Bowling A., Rangasamy M., Worden S., Narva K., and Siegfried B., 2016, RNAi as a management tool for the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, Pest Management Science, 72(9): 1652-1663. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.4324 Furlan L., Chiarini F., Contiero B., Benvegnù I., Horgan F., Kos T., Lemić D., and Bažok R., 2022, Risk assessment and area-wide crop rotation to keep western corn rootworm below damage thresholds and avoid insecticide use in european maize production, Insects, 13(5): 415. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13050415
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