Currently, 76% of corn stover produced in the U.S. is derived from
plants containing a Bt transgene [14]. The Bt transgene originates
from Bacillus thuringiensis, a naturally occurring soil bacterium that
produces proteins (Bt) toxic to specific target insects. Plants
genetically modified to produce the Bt protein have a built-in larvicidal
toxin that kills lepidopteran pests, especially the European
corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), a major pest in Europe and North
America that can reduce yields of corn by 3e7% per borer, [15].
Work published by Saxena and Stotzky in 2001 [16] showed that
the lignin content, an anti-quality agent for ethanol production was
significantly higher (33e97% higher) for Bt lines compared to their
respective non-Bt isoline