Scientia Agricola (2005) 62, 464-468

Ricardo Antonio Polanczyk and Sérgio Batista Alves (2005)
Biological parameters of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) assayed with Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner
Scientia Agricola 62 (5), 464-468
Abstract: The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a promising control agent of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith). Besides the lethal effect on hosts, the entomopathogen may cause physiological alterations that hinder insects' feeding intake and reproduction. Larval and female pupa weight, oviposition and egg fecundity were determined in second instar S. frugiperda larvae infected with 39 Bt isolates in four bioassays. Sublethal effects were observed in the follow isolates: ESALQ 1.1, ESALQ 1.4, ESALQ 1.6, ESALQ 3.7, ESALQ 4.2 and ESALQ 5.2 (larval and female pupae weight); ESALQ 5.1 (larval weight); ESALQ 1.2 and ESALQ 3.7 (egg fecundity); ESALQ 3.7 (oviposition and egg fecundity); ESALQ 3.7 and ESALQ 5.2 (oviposition). Significant correlations were observed when parameters were analyzed together, except in the second bioassay (female pupal weight x oviposition, female pupal weight x egg fecundity and oviposition x egg fecundity). Some Bt isolates affected the biological parameters of S. frugiperda, mainly larval and female pupae weight, and in some instances these effects were passed on to further life cycle stages affecting oviposition and egg fecundity. Although sublethal effects are difficult to evaluate, mainly under field conditions, they should be considered when the activity of an entomopathogen is measured.
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Database assignments for author(s): Ricardo Antonio Polanczyk, Sérgio Batista Alves

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Spodoptera frugiperda
Bacillus thuringiensis (entomopathogen)	Spodoptera frugiperda