Performance of the domestic Bt corn event expressing pyramided Cry1Ab and Vip3Aa19 against the invasive Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) in China

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), has caused serious corn yield losses and increased the frequency of insecticide spraying on corn in Africa and Asia. Drawing lessons from the use of Bt corn to manage fall armyworm in the Americas, China released a certificate for the genetically modified corn event DBN3601T pyramidally expressing Cry1Ab and Vip3Aa19 for industrialization in 2021. Performance of the DBN3601T event against invasive fall armyworm in China was evaluated by plant tissue-based bioassays and field trials during 2019-2021.RESULTS: In the bioassays, tissues and organs of DBN3601T corn differed significantly in lethality to fall armyworm neonates in the order: leaf > husk > tassel and kernel > silk. In field trials, compared with non-Bt corn, DBN3601T corn greatly suppressed fall armyworm populations and damage; larval density, damage incidence, and leaf damage scores for DBN3601T corn were significantly lower than for non-Bt corn at different vegetative stages, and efficacy against larval populations during the 3 years ranged from 95.24% to 98.30%. CONCLUSION: A laboratory bioassay and 3-year field trials confirmed that DBN3601T corn greatly suppressed fall armyworm populations and has high potential as a control of this invasive pest, making it a key tactic for integrated management of fall armyworm in China.

The invasive Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) has displaced Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) as the dominant maize pest in the border area of southwestern China

“…For FAW, the invaded population has shown susceptible to five Bt proteins (Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1F, Cry2Ab and Vip3A) in China, and some of which also were listed as a measure for control of the pest 77,78 . In view of the fact that the Chinese government issued several safety certificates for Bt corn events in recent years, but did not commercialize until now, 79 the decreased ACB population was unlikely to be linked with Bt maize. However, the future use of Bt maize should be an important factor to regulate population dynamic of the pest 50 .…”

A Social Network Analysis approach for identifying critical research areas in the management of Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)

“…Huang et al, 2022;Li et al, 2022). Chlorantraniliprole and carbaryl have been identi ed as effective in controlling the fall armyworm, along with methyl benzoate as a botanical pesticide and DBN3601T corn expressing Cry1Ab and Vip3Aa19 (S. Zhao et al, 2023). These ndings have the potential to reduce the need for pesticide usage (S. Yang et al, 2022; Y.…”

Toxic Effects of Bt-(Cry1Ab+Vip3Aa) Maize on Storage Pest Paralipsa gularis (Zeller)

“…To reduce grain loss caused by lepidopteran pests, Chinese researchers have developed several transgenic insect-resistant maize strains, and the Chinese government has successively issued corresponding safety certificates for production and application, such as DBN9936 (Cry1Ab), DBN9501 (Vip3Aa), DBN3601T (Cry1Ab+Vip3Aa), and Bt11 × MIR162 (Cry1Ab+Vip3Aa). These transgenic insect-resistant maize varieties are highly effective against lepidopteran pests, such as S. frugiperda , Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée), and H. armigera [ 25 , 26 , 27 ], but their control potential against P. gularis remains unclear until now. Therefore, in order to develop new technology for the control of P. gularis and to promote the deployment of transgenic insect-resistant maize in pest management, we determined the virulence of Bt-Cry1Ab, Vip3Aa and their complex proteins against P. gularis and studied the insecticidal effect of Bt-(Cry1Ab+Vip3Aa) maize against P. gularis during 2022–2023.…”