Frequency of Cry1F Non-Recessive Resistance Alleles in North Carolina Field Populations of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

PLoS One. 2016 Apr 27;11(4):e0154492. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154492. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a target species of transgenic corn (Zea mays L.) that expresses single and pyramided Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin. In 2014, S. frugiperda were collected from a light trap in North Carolina, and a total of 212 F1/F2 isofemale lines of S. frugiperda were screened for resistance to Bt and non-Bt corn. All of the 212 isolines were susceptible to corn tissue expressing Cry1A.105 + Cry2Ab, Cry1F + Cry1A.105 + Cry2Ab, and Cry1F + Cry1Ab + Vip3Aa20. Growth rate bioassays were performed to isolate non-recessive Bt resistance alleles. Seven individuals out of the 212 isofemale lines carried major non-recessive alleles conferring resistance to Cry1F. A pooled colony was created from the seven individuals. This colony was 151.21 times more resistant to Cry1F than a known-susceptible population and was also resistant to Cry1A.105, but was not resistant to Cry2Ab and Vip3Aa20. The results demonstrate that field populations of S. frugiperda collected from North Carolina are generally susceptible to Cry1F, but that some individuals carry resistant alleles. The data generated in this study can be used as baseline data for resistance monitoring.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Endotoxins / genetics*
  • Female
  • Genetics, Population
  • Hemolysin Proteins / genetics*
  • Insect Control
  • Insecticide Resistance*
  • North Carolina
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Spodoptera / genetics
  • Spodoptera / growth & development*
  • Zea mays / genetics*
  • Zea mays / parasitology

Substances

  • Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Endotoxins
  • Hemolysin Proteins
  • insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis

Grants and funding

This research was supported by ad-hoc funding of the Reisig laboratory, and the Key project for Breeding Genetically modified Organisms (No. 2014ZX08012-004, 2016ZX08012004-007), China scholarship Council (No. 2011841039) and Science-Technology Foundation for Outstanding Young Scientists of Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Grant no. 2016YQ15). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.