Comparison of the Level of Damage by Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Genetically-Modified and Conventional Maize Plants in Northern Mexico

The level of damage caused by the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), was evaluated under field conditions in three genetically-modified (GM) maize hybrids with and without application of insecticide, and a conventional hybrid used as control. The GM varieties Agrisure 3110 (R), expressing the Bacillus thuringiensis proteins Cry1Ab and Vip3Aa20, and Agrisure Viptera 3111 (R) expressing the Cry1Ab, Vip3Aa20, and mCry3A, with or without insecticide, showed a high level of resistance against the fall armyworm with values of 1 on the Davis Scale. Agrisure 3000 GT((R)) that expresses Cry1Ab and mCry3A had 2.3 and 3.3 foliar damage with and without insecticide, whereas foliar damage was higher on the control check with values of 7.2 and 9 with and without insecticide application, respectively. These results show that the technology is highly effective to control this key pest and could bring considerable benefits to the farmers of Mexico.