Push-pull soil pest control using maize-derived repellent compounds for western corn rootworm management
A novel pest management strategy that uses behaviorally-active compounds from maize roots to repel western corn rootworm (WCR) larvae in the soil. By combining a repellent with host recognition cues and reduced insecticide, this push-pull approach offers an alternative to control methods compromised by widespread WCR resistance.
Overview
Western corn rootworm (WCR) is one of the most destructive pests of maize in North America, and current management tools are increasingly compromised by the insect's ability to develop resistance to crop rotation, insecticides, and transgenic maize. This technology offers a novel push-pull pest control strategy that exploits the chemical ecology of maize roots to protect crops from WCR larval damage.
The approach is based on the discovery that maize roots naturally produce both host recognition cues (methyl diacylglycerols) and a repellent compound (methyl anthranilate, MA). By creating a repellent zone around maize roots and concentrating larvae near a toxin, the system can reduce larval feeding while significantly lowering the amount of insecticide required. The technology addresses a critical unmet need for durable, resistance-resistant pest management in maize production.
Technical specifications
Core mechanism:
- A push-pull strategy deployed in soil that combines maize-derived repellent compounds with host recognition cues to disrupt WCR larval behavior
- The repellent drives larvae away from maize roots (the push), while host cues and a low-dose toxin concentrate and eliminate pests (the pull)
Key compounds identified:
- Methyl anthranilate (MA): a naturally-occurring rootworm repellent identified in maize roots; effective in soil bioassays but limited by volatility and microbial degradation
- Butyl anthranilate (BA): a GRAS-list (Generally Recognized As Safe) analog of MA that retains repellency and demonstrates improved soil longevity
- Four additional GRAS-list MA analogs under evaluation for repellency and persistence
Validation approach:
- Behavioral bioassays to evaluate repellency of MA analogs against WCR larvae
- Soil longevity testing using GC (gas chromatography) analysis over an 8-week period
- Push-pull assays in soil tubs with maize seedlings, combining host recognition cues with and without insecticide
Technology readiness level
The technology is currently at an early-to-mid stage of development. The proof-of-concept has been demonstrated: MA has been identified as a natural WCR repellent and successfully tested in soil bioassays in push-pull configurations, both with and without insecticides. A more stable analog, butyl anthranilate (BA), has been identified and shown to retain repellency with better soil persistence. Ongoing work includes screening additional GRAS-list analogs for repellency, measuring soil longevity over 8 weeks, and conducting larger-scale push-pull trials in soil tubs with maize seedlings. Further validation in field conditions and regulatory review for commercial deployment remain as next steps.
About Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a comprehensive public land‑grant research university with an applied, partnership‑driven culture. Multiple research campuses—including the Fort Collins main campus, a public‑facing Denver site, and a foothills research complex with shared core facilities and pilot‑scale testbeds—enable companies to co‑locate, access instrumentation, and run validation studies. A statewide Extension network and proximity to the Front Range innovation corridor provide streamlined engagement with regional and national industry, while an integrated veterinary teaching hospital supports translational studies. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NSF, NIH, USDA, DOE, and DoD. A dedicated technology transfer office streamlines IP, contracting, and startup formation, with incubator and collaboration space for industry partners.
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