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LARGE AREA MONITORING FOR PESTICIDAL TRANSGENIC CROPS: HOW SPECTRAL IMAGING MAY PLAY A ROLE
Citation:
GLASER, J. A. LARGE AREA MONITORING FOR PESTICIDAL TRANSGENIC CROPS: HOW SPECTRAL IMAGING MAY PLAY A ROLE. Presented at Regional Science Workshop on Remote Sensing and Landscape Characterization, CHICAGO, IL, November 01 - 03, 2005.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public
Description:
Crops genetically engineered to contain a bacterial gene that expresses an insecticidal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis are regulated by EPA under the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). EPA has declared crops containing transgenic pesticidal traits to be "in the public good" because of their potential to create higher crop yields with fewer insecticide applications. EPA requirements for FIFRA registration of transgenic pesticidal crops include a number of stewardship issues, among which crop monitoring for development of insect pest resistance plays a critical role. For example, the current plantings of 25+ million acres of transgenic corn in the United States require a new approach to offer proactive monitoring of this very important crop. Remote sensing by satellite or aerial imaging provides a method of identifying and quantifying transgenic pesticidal crop distribution in the landscape. Using hyperspectral imagery collected from a camera mounted in a Cessna 210 aircraft, our research has imaged a series of designed corn plantings of known hybrid composition. The ability to distinguish transgenic hybrids from their nearest relative isolines and potentially determine differing levels of pest infestation detection will be discussed. Our evolving monitoring system is designed to provide an early warning of resistance development by assessing transgenic pesticidal crops for insect pest infestation. The extension of the current research into this system also will be discussed.