Bacillus thuringiensis-Based Bioproduct: Characterization and Performance Against Spodoptera frugiperda Strains in Maize Under Different Environmental Temperatures

Abstract

Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an important pest in several regions being the use of Bacillus thuringiensis-based bioproducts an alternative for its control. Firstly, 3 L of an aqueous bioproduct suspension was produced and characterized. Its 50% lethal concentration against molecularly identified corn and rice S. frugiperda strains using an artificial diet were 77.01% (95% CL, 68.16–90.47) and 2.22% (95% CL, 0.01–6.68), respectively. The next objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of this bioproduct in maize against S. frugiperda strains under different simulated agrological regions mimicking their corresponding periodic day/night temperatures. Thus, the impact of environmental temperature on the bioproduct efficacy (E) was studied. It was observed that a warmer scenario (35 °C day/30 °C night) could favor the tolerance of corn S. frugiperda strain to the bioproduct (E = 56.36 ± 0.61%) maintaining a high efficacy (92.44 ± 6.55%) when it was tested against rice S. frugiperda strain. Conversely, under temperate conditions, efficacy values ranged from 84 to 95% for both S. frugiperda strains. On the other hand, based on a foliar feeding damage analysis, our bioproduct displayed a significant foliar protection in maize plants infested with either corn or rice S. frugiperda strains. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].