<p style="text-align: justify;">Corn line MIR604 has been genetically modified to be resistant to western corn rootworm (<i>Diabrotica vigifera vigifera</i>), northern corn rootworm (<i>D. berberi</i>), and Mexican corn rootworm (<i>D. vigifera zeae</i>). These species are serious insect pests of dent corn in the major corn-producing states of the north-central United States and Canada. Protection is conferred by the expression in the plant of the bacterially derived protein toxin mCry3A, encoded by the <i>mcry3A</i> gene in the corn plants. A selectable marker gene, <i>pmi</i>, encodes phosphomannose isomerase and allows transformed cells to utilise carbon from phosphomannose media.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Commercial corn lines containing the <i>cry</i> genes from <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> can provide growers with effective methods for controlling corn rootworm. Formulations with insecticidal toxins from cultures of <i>B. thuringiensis</i> are widely used as biopesticides on a variety of cereal and vegetable crops grown organically or under conventional agricultural conditions.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Corn, together with rice and wheat, is one of the most important cereal crops in the world. The majority of grain and forage derived from maize is used in animal feed. Maize grain is also used in industrial products, such as ethanol by fermentation and highly refined starch by wet milling. Corn-based products, largely as high-fructose corn syrup, are processed into breakfast cereals, baking products, extruded confectionery and corn chips. Other corn products such as cornstarch are also used by the food industry for the manufacture of dessert mixes and canned foods.&nbsp;</p>
