Efeito do Milho Geneticamente Modificado Mon810 sobre a Lagarta-do-Cartucho Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

In Brazil the potential of yield corn losses by Spodoptera frugiperda varies from 17 to 38,7%. This species promotes the greatest damage when the corn crop is infested at phenological phase with 8 - 10 leaves. With the advent of biotechnology it was developed a new insect tactic control: genetically modified crop, which represents a new approach for insect control. This study had the objective to evaluate the effect of the genetically modified corn MON810 (Cry1Ab protein), on S. frugiperda under field conditions and natural infestation in the 1999/2000 and 2000/2001 seasons. The MON810 significantly reduced the S. frugiperda larvae infestation and injuries on plant whorl to low levels, compared to non- transformed corn. The obtained results allow to conclude that the genetically modified corn MON810 was efficient to protect the crop from S. frugiperda infestation and damage.