Evaluation of Foliar Damage bySpodoptera frugiperda(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Genetically Modified Corn (Poales: Poaceae) in Mexico

Abstract

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda Smith & Abbot (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a key pest of corn, Zea mays L. (Poales: Poaceae), in Mexico. The development of genetically modified (GM) corn hybrids for resistance to this insect, with the inclusion of several genes coding for proteins Cry1Ab, Vip3Aa20, and mCry3A of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) (Bt), offer an alternative to conventional insecticides to control this pest. Resistance to fall armyworms of the GM corn hybrids Agrisure 3000 GT, Agrisure Viptera 3110, and Agrisure Viptera 3111 was evaluated in 4 locations at Sinaloa for a 3 yr period. Damage evaluation showed that the maize hybrids with the Bt gene insertion were not affected by the fall armyworm as compared with their respective isolines, which were seriously damaged. The results reaffirm the insect control benefits provided by this technology and provide a baseline for resistance management.

Presence of Corn Earworm and Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Populations in Sweet Corn and their Susceptibility to Insecticides in Puerto Rico

“…Diego M. Viteri 1, *, Angela M. Linares 2 , Irma Cabrera 3 , and Leidy Sarmiento 1 Corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), are important pests of sweet corn, Zea mays L. (Poaceae), in the tropics and elsewhere (Belay et al 2012;Bohnenblust et al 2013). Larvae of both species feed on different plant parts (e.g., leaves, tassels, and ears) during the entire growing season, causing yield losses of over 20% (Marenco et al 1992;Bohnenblust et al 2013;Aguirre et al 2016). The use of insecticides is the most effective strategy to control larvae of corn earworm and fall armyworm.…”

Chromosome level draft genomes of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), an alien invasive pest in China

“…Although many pesticides are less harmful to the environment and humans, all these factors can lead the sublethal effects, which possibly help the FAW to evolve resistance against the pesticides 25-27 . An effective compensating management for insecticides is the use of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins produced by the by the bacterium.Bt plants have been proved fatal to many insect pests, including the FAW 28-30 . The Bt toxin provides much longer protection than insecticides and less harmful to the environment and humans.…”

“…The Bt toxin provides much longer protection than insecticides and less harmful to the environment and humans. Although some research reported the resistance of FAW to Bt maize 29,30 , multiple genes or new gene with more or new Bt toxin expressed are still thought to have a good performance for resisting the FAW 29,30 . Biological control, including the, introduction of natural enemies and using companion cropping system 19,21,25,31,32 , is also an effective way to resist the FAW.…”

Induction of resistance to fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in transgenic and conventional corn plants

“…Therefore, its cultivation requires planning and strict management (Andrade, 1995;Fancelli and Dourado Neto, 2004;Cruz et al, 2008). The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a polyphagous species that attacks various economically important crops in several countries (Lopes et al, 2008;Aguirre et al, 2016). In Brazil, the fall armyworm is considered a key pest of corn because it causes enormous losses that can reduce production by more than 25%.…”