Author(s): BORTOLOTTO, O. C.; BUENO, A. de F.; QUEIROZ, A. P. de; SILVA, G. V.; BARBOSA, G. C.

Summary: This study aimed to evaluate, in controlled laboratory conditions (temperature of 25±2 C, relative humidity of 60±10%, and 14/10 h L/D photoperiod), the larval development of Spodoptera eridania (Cramer, 1784) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) fed with leaves of Bt maize expressing Cry1F and Cry1F + Cry1A.105 + Cry2Ab2 insecticide proteins and its non-Bt isoline. Maize leaves triggered 100% of mortality on S. eridania larvae independently of being Bt or non-Bt plants. However, it was observed that in overall Bt maize (expressing a single or pyramided protein) slightly affects the larval development of S. eridania, even under reduced leaf consumption. Therefore, these results showed that Cry1F and Cry1F + Cry1A.105 + Cry2Ab2 can affect the larval development of S. eridania, although it is not a target pest of this plant; however, more research is needed to better understand this evidence. Finally, this study confirms that non-Bt maize leaves are unsuitable food source to S. eridania larvae, suggesting that they are not a potential pest in maize fields.

Publication year: 2015

Types of publication: Journal article

Unit: Embrapa Soybean

Keywords: Biological control, Corn, Entomologia, Insect larvae, Lagarta, Pest control, Spodoptera eridania