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Does Singular and Stacked Corn Affect Choice Behavior for Oviposition and Feed in Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)?

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Abstract

Little is known about the effects of genetically modified corn plants on the foraging of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith). Therefore, this study examines whether singular herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant plants and their stacked events interfere with food preference and oviposition of S. frugiperda. Two non-Bt corn hybrids and three Bt-hybrids, some of them with glyphosate tolerance (GT), were evaluated. Food preference of larvae and biological parameters were assessed. Oviposition preference bioassays involved choice and no choice condition in plants uninfested and previously infested by larvae in a greenhouse and in the field. The results indicate that there is no relationship between preference of larvae and adult moths. Adult females selected preferentially transgenic hybrids, while larvae selected non-Bt hybrid. Fall armyworm larvae avoid Bt-toxin-expressing leaf tissues, survived only on the non-Bt leaf tissues, and showed minor differences in other life-history traits reared on GT and non-transgenic corn leaf tissues. Female moths showed preference for transgenic plants to lay eggs, but with variable output between previously infested and uninfested plants with larvae. The fact that moths preferred Ag 3700RR2 and non-Bt hybrids for oviposition supports the refuge’s strategy aiming at producing susceptible individuals. The use of this hybrid must be integrated with a program of control. The results showed also the importance of correct hybrid selection as part of insect resistance management to Bt-plants. The implications of these findings for understanding the impacts of plant-mediated cues on pest behavior in transgenic crop systems are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agronomia/Fitotecnia, for the scientific support to the student and thank Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, for the structure provided for the experiment.

Author Contribution Statement

PT Nascimento planed, designed and executed experimental work, MAM Fadini conducted data analyses, PT Nascimento wrote the manuscript. FH Valicente, MAM Fadini, CSF Souza and RG Von Pinho reviewed the manuscript.

Funding

The study was financially supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Univ Federal de Lavras – UFLA, Lavras, Brasil

    P. T. Nascimento, R. G. Von Pinho & C. S. F. Souza

  2. Univ Federal de São João del-Rei – UFSJ, Sete Lagoas, Brasil

    M. A. M. Fadini

  3. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, Sete Lagoas, MG, Brasil

    F. H. Valicente

Authors
  1. P. T. Nascimento
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  2. R. G. Von Pinho
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  3. M. A. M. Fadini
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  4. C. S. F. Souza
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  5. F. H. Valicente
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Correspondence to F. H. Valicente.

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Nascimento, P.T., Von Pinho, R.G., Fadini, M.A.M. et al. Does Singular and Stacked Corn Affect Choice Behavior for Oviposition and Feed in Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)?. Neotrop Entomol 49, 302–310 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-019-00750-0

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