| Title: | Reduced Mythimna separata infestation on Bt corn could benefit aphids |
| Author(s): | Li XW; Du LX; Zhang L; Peng YF; Hua HX; Romeis J; Li YH; |
| Address: | "College of Plant Science & Technology of Huazhong Agriculture University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China. Agroscope, Research Division Agroecology and Environment, Zurich, Switzerland" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1744-7917 (Electronic) 1672-9609 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Use of genetically engineered plants that express insecticidal Cry proteins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have been proven efficacious for managing lepidopteran pests. However, in some cases herbivores that are not targeted by the Bt trait have increased in importance. It has been suggested that reduced caterpillar damage to Bt crops could lead to decreased levels of induced plant defensive compounds which might benefit other non-target herbivores. Here we investigated the potential effect of reduced damage by larvae of Mythimna separata on aphid populations in Bt corn. We compared the performance of Rhopalosiphum maidis feeding on non-Bt corn plants that had been infested by M. separata larvae or were uninfested. The results showed that caterpillar-infested corn plants significantly reduced the fitness of R. maidis leading to a prolonged nymphal development time, reduced adult longevity and fecundity compared to uninfested plants. Consequently, the population growth rate of corn aphids feeding on caterpillar-infested corn plants was significantly lower than on uninfested plants. As expected, the aphids performed significantly better on Lepidoptera-resistant Bt corn than on non-Bt corn when plants were infested with M. separata, since the caterpillars caused very little damage to the Bt plants. The current findings indicate that reduced M. separata infestation could benefit aphid development in Bt corn. Bt corn has the potential to be commercialized in China in the near future and aphids and other non-target pests should be monitored in the farming fields" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Aphids/*growth & development Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins/genetics Bacterial Proteins/genetics Crops, Agricultural/genetics Endotoxins/genetics Hemolysin Proteins/genetics Herbivory Moths/*growth & development Pest Control, Biological *Plants, Ge;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineLi, Xiang-Wen Du, Li-Xiao Zhang, Lei Peng, Yu-Fa Hua, Hong-Xia Romeis, Jorg Li, Yun-He eng 2016ZX08011-001/National GMO New Variety Breeding Program of PRC/ Australia 2020/06/09 Insect Sci. 2021 Aug; 28(4):1139-1146. doi: 10.1111/1744-7917.12833. Epub 2020 Jul 20" |
