2007 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) The purpose of this agreement is to contribute to a scientific information framework for managing insect resistance to transgenic plants by evaluating and improving methods to monitor for insect resistance. This information can provide standardized monitoring protocols to be used across the Corn Belt. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Several methods for monitoring resistance to Bt proteins have been proposed for the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis. Two of these methods have produced the primary data the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been using for regulatory decisions regarding Bt corn: discriminating concentration assays and the F2 screen. To effectively monitor the frequency of resistance alleles in wild populations of insects, researchers must balance the concerns of statistical precision at low allelic frequencies, costs of sampling, and the organization and labor required to intensively sample many individuals or families. This effort will bring together scientists working in the area of insect resistance monitoring to improve existing methods. The final product of this work will be protocols that will be used for resistance monitoring, which will benefit the science of resistance management in general and Bt resistance in particular. 3.Progress Report This report serves to document research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement between ARS and the University of Nebraska to conduct research related to an Interagency Agreement (60-3625-4-0574) with the Environmental Protection Agency (National Risk Management Research Lab, Cincinnati, OH) and USDA-ARS. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent CRIS #3625-22000-016-00D, Ecologically-Based Management of Insect Pests of Corn. The purpose of this agreement is to contribute to a scientific information framework for managing insect resistance to transgenic crops. This information can provide enhanced support to the public in its deliberations about the use of transgenic plants. This includes evaluation and standardization of methods to detect insect resistance. Contributions are being made by the University of Nebraska and the University of Minnesota. Populations of laboratory selected strains of European corn borer have been generated to map regions of the European corn borer genome that are affecting resistance to the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) protein Cry1Ab. Molecular markers and linkage maps are currently under development for this purpose. Standardized protocols have been written that describe the diagnostic dose bioassays for resistance monitoring. Quantitative methods for determining the concentration of Cry toxin preparations are currently in development and will provide a means to standardize bioassay results when new sources of toxins are necessary. Biweekly phone conversations were initiated with the University of Nebraska in the planning and execution of experiments to enhance the USDA-ARS contribution to finding genetic traits affecting resistance monitoring. Emails also were used to monitor the progress of their contributions to the resistance monitoring project. Two trips were made to the University of Nebraska to discuss research plans in addition to a discussion of the project at the national Entomological Society of America meeting.