The effect of corn genotypes upon food preferences of Spodoptera frugiperda larvae was evaluated. The genotypes selected were: IAC701 N, an inbred line of Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC), State of São Paulo, Brazil; 'IAC7777', a single hybrid of IAC in which the above inbred line is one of the parents; Mp707, an inbred line of Mississippi State University considered to be resistant to S. frugiperda; and Zapalote Chico (ZC), a Central American corn race referred as resistant to Helicoverpa zea and S. frugiperda. The tests were run in arenas with free choice among treatments. The test with 1st instar larvae indicated that the insects preferred to feed on the genotypes IAC701 N and IAC7777, and a lower percentage of larvae stablished on the leaves of ZC and Mp707. The test with 5th instar larvae indicated a non-preference of the larvae for the leaves of genotypes Mp707 and ZC while IAC701 N was the most preferred with more leaf area consumed. The non-preference for feeding tests leaded to the conclusion that this type of resistance is present in ZC and Mp707. These results confirm previous data in the literature.
Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae; Spodoptera frugiperda; plant resistance; Zea mays
