Ciência Rural (Jun 2016)

Biological activity of Bt proteins expressed in different structures of transgenic corn against Spodoptera frugiperda

  • Daniel Bernardi,
  • Oderlei Bernardi,
  • Renato Jun Horikoshi,
  • Eloisa Salmeron,
  • Daniela Miyuki Okuma,
  • Celso Omoto

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20150047
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 46, no. 6
pp. 1019 – 1024

Abstract

Read online

ABSTRACT: Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) is the main target pest of Bt corn technologies, such as YieldGard VT PRO(tm) (Cry1A.105/Cry2Ab2) and PowerCore(tm) (Cry1A.105/Cry2Ab2/Cry1F). In this study, it was evaluated the biological activity of Bt proteins expressed in different plant structures of YieldGard VT PRO(tm) and PowerCore(tm) corn against S. frugiperda . Complete mortality of S. frugiperda neonates was observed on leaf-disc of both Bt corn technologies. However, the mortality in silks and grains was lower than 50 and 6%, respectively. In addition, more than 49% of the surviving larvae in silks and grains completed the biological cycle. However, all life table parameters were negatively affected in insects that developed in silks and grains of both Bt corn events. In summary, the low biological activity of Bt proteins expressed on silks and grains of YieldGard VT PRO(tm) and PowerCore(tm) corn can contribute to the resistance evolution in S. frugiperda populations.

Keywords