Genetic basis of Cry1F resistance in two Brazilian populations of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda

Large-scale adoption of transgenic crops expressing genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) imposes high selection pressure for evolution of field-relevant resistance that can reduce pest control efficacy, such as reported for Cry1F maize (Zea mays L.) in populations of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), of Puerto Rico, Brazil, and the United States. As part of our effort to improve fall armyworm resistance management to Bt crops, here we determined the genetic basis of Cry1F resistance in two S. frugiperda strains originated from field collections in different regions of Brazil and further selected in the laboratory for high levels of resistance to Cry1F maize. Continuous exposure to the TC1507 event for 11 generations resulted in more than 183-fold resistance to Cry1F in the two strains studied, and such a high resistance level enabled the insects to complete larval development on the Bt maize plants. Genetic analyses using concentration-response bioassays with progenies from reciprocal crosses between resistant and susceptible insects indicated that the inheritance of the resistance is autosomal, recessive and without maternal effects. Backcross of the F-1 progeny with the parental resistant strains revealed that the resistance in the two selected strains is conferred by a single locus or set of tightly linked loci. These results support some of the assumptions of the strategy in use for fall armyworm resistance management to Bt Cry1F maize, but survival rates of heterozygotes on the Bt plants were higher than 5%, showing that the Cry1F maize does not produce a high dose of the insecticidal protein for S. frugiperda. Additionally, we detected a delay in larval development time that may favor assortative mating of individuals carrying resistance alleles. These findings are consistent with the rapid evolution of Cry1F resistance in certain field populations of fall armyworm. Implications for resistance management of S. frugiperda to Bt maize are discussed. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.