TITLE:
Comparative Study of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Preference for Bt and Non-Bt Soybean Cultivars
AUTHORS:
Vilmar Bueno Dos Santos, Luciana Barboza Silva, Eliane Carneiro, Alexandre Faria Silva, Gleidyane Novais Lopes, Bruno Ettore Pavan, Thiago Ferreira Rodrigues
KEYWORDS:
Cry1Ac Protein, Genetically Modified Plants, Food Preference, Oviposition
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.8 No.10,
September
20,
2017
ABSTRACT: Studies
on the behavior of Helicoverpa armigera in relation to soybean cultivars expressing Bt proteins are fundamentally
important for IPM. We determine the no-choice and feeding choice of H. armigera, the no-choice and
oviposition choice in different Bt and non-Bt soybeans cultivars. In the first
step it was carried out the experiment to determine the no-choice and food choice in test for 12 Bt and non-Bt soybean
cultivars. Simultaneously the consumption was determined. In a second
step it was evaluated the no-choice and oviposition
choice in different soybean cultivars. Helicoverpa armigera caterpillars showed neither attractiveness and preference for food nor attractiveness
and oviposition preference for Bt and non-Bt soybean leaves when simultaneously
contrasting the tested cultivars. This study showed that Bt toxin did not
influence the oviposition preference, and H. armigera adults did not differentiate Bt and non-Bt soybean cultivars for
oviposition indicating no behavioral preference. Third instar caterpillars
showed no discrimination between Bt and non-Bt soybean leaves. Research in this
area must focus on the possibility of widespread planting of genetically
modified soybeans containing the Bt protein, which is associated with selection
pressure and the behavior of pest species in relation to their hosts, as well
as on the adequacy of management tactics that is able
to prevent the loss of technology efficiency.