Biology of Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) fed transgenic maize pollen
Keywords:
integrated pest management, insect–plant interaction, egg parasitoid, Cry1Ab,Abstract
Abstract
Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) is an important natural egg parasitoids of pest insects in the agricultural environment, being used as a form of biological control, and it may be affected by the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin present in transgenic plants widely used in Brazil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Bt maize pollen fed to adults of the parasitoid T. pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) reared in the eggs of the alternate host Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Three treatments (diets) were compared: pollen from Bt maize, pollen from non-Bt maize, and 10% honey solution (control). Each treatment consisted of 50 T. pretiosum females that were freshly emerged and mated (between 24 and 36 h old). Biological characteristics indicative of the efficiency of T. pretiosum as a biological control agent were evaluated for 4 generations. The results suggest that the consumption of pollen did not affect the evaluated biological characteristics, such as percentage of parasitism, sex ratio, and number of individuals reared per host egg, in any of 4 generations. Thus, we showed that Bt maize is compatible with the use of T. pretiosum for biological control.
Key Words: integrated pest management; insect–plant interaction; egg parasitoid; Cry1Ab
Resumo
Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) são parasitóides de ovos naturais de insetos no ambiente agrícola e podem ser afetados pela toxina Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) presente em plantas transgênicas amplamente utilizadas no Brasil. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito do pólen de milho Bt alimentando adultos do parasitóide T. pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) criados nos ovos do hospedeiro alternativo Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Três tratamentos (dietas) foram comparados: pólen de milho Bt, pólen de milho não Bt e solução de mel a 10% (controle). Cada tratamento consistiu em 50 fêmeas de T. pretiosum que foram recentemente emergidas e acasaladas (entre 24 e 36 h de idade). As características biológicas indicativas da eficiência de T. pretiosum como agente de controle biológico foram avaliadas por 4 gerações. Os resultados sugerem que o consumo de pólen não afetou as características biológicas avaliadas, como porcentagem de parasitismo, razão sexual e número de indivíduos criados por ovo do hospedeiro, em qualquer uma das 4 gerações. Assim, provamos que o milho Bt é compatível com o uso de T. pretiosum para o controle biológico.
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