Challenges to Control Cross-Crop Pests in Brazilian Multi-Crop Environment

Celso OmotoUniversity of São Paulo

celso.omoto@usp.br

150 years

• Brazilian agriculture: implications for IPM

• Changes in insect population dynamics and crop management practices with Bt crops and recent detection of Helicoverpa armigera

• Major challenge for enhancing crop yield in Brazil

OUTLINE

OCT NOV DEC JAN FEV MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP

Major crop season in BrazilBefore 1990’s

Available at: http://www.economist.com/node/16886442

The miracle of Cerrado

Corn Production Area in Brazil (1990-2013)(million of hectares)

Source: CONAB

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

1st Season 2nd Season

OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP

1st season2nd season Irrigated

crops

Crop growing seasons

≈ 6.1 million ha≈ 9.3 million ha

Cotton≈ 1.0 million ha

Source: Conab / IBGE (2014)

Soybean≈ 30 million ha

CornCorn

Irrigation

Chrysodeixis includens in soybean and cotton

Credit: Paulo E. Saran

Tetranychid mites in soybean and cotton

Credit: Paulo E. Saran

Credit: Flávio Moscardi

Bemisia tabaci Biotype B

Stink bugs in cotton

Credit: Paulo E. Saran

Dysdercus spp.

Credit: Paulo E. Saran

Soybean Maize

Millet

Credit: Paulo E. Saran

S. frugiperdain cotton and soybean crops

Increase problem of Spodoptera spp. in cotton and soybean crops

Detection of Helicoverpa armigera in Brazil in 2013

Czepak et al. (2013); Spetch et al. (2013)

Barbosa, 2012Credit: Barbosa

http://www.pesticideresistance.com

48 active ingredients

686 cases

246 locations

Resistance cases in the world - H. armigera

Spinosad

Bifenthrin

Zeta cypermethrin

Lambda-cyhalothrin

Fenvarelate

Thiodicarb

Chlorpyrifos

Cross-Crop Pests

Corn

Spodoptera frugiperdaHelicoverpa spp.Stink bugs and other bugsAphidsWhiteflies

Cotton

Spodoptera frugiperdaS. eridaniaS. cosmioidesHelicoverpa armigeraHeliothis virescensChrysodeixis includensStink bugs and other bugsWhitefliesSpider mites

Soybean

Spodoptera frugiperdaS. eridaniaS. cosmioidesHelicoverpa armigeraHeliothis virescensChrysodeixis includensStink bugs and other bugsWhitefliesSpider mites

Major Cropping Systems in Western Bahia, Brazil

Source: Círculo Verde

• 1980´s 2 to 4 insecticide sprays Production cost: US$ 300-400/ha

• 1990´s 5 to 7 insecticide spraysProduction cost: US$ 500-600/ha

• 2000´s 6 a 8 insecticide spraysProduction cost: US$ 800/ha

• 2012/13 > 10 insecticide spraysProduction cost: ≈ US$ 950/ha

Soybean in Western Bahia

Source: ADAB, ABAPA, AIBA, Fundação BA

Pesticide Sales in Brazilian Agriculture2009 - 2013

6.6267.304

8.4889.710

11.454

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Value in US$ MilhõesSource: SINDIVEG (2014)

Citrus2%

Coffee2% Cotton

9%

Corn10%

Sugarcane10%

Soybean51%

Others (22)16%

Pesticide Value per Crop –US$ (1000)

Source: SINDIVEG (2014)

Soybean + Sugarcane+ Corn + Cotton80%

2013 = Total R$ 24,5 bi = US$ 11,4 billion

Goiás

MinasGerais

São Paulo

Resistance Monitoring1996-2015

BahiaMato Grosso

Mato Grossodo Sul

Paraná

Rio Grandedo SulSpodoptera frugiperda

Chemical Class IRAC Classification

Organophosphates 1BPyrethroids 3

Benzoylureas 11Spinosyns 5

Carbamates 1AIndoxacarb 22ADiamides 28

Bacillus thuringiensis 16

High f(R)

Low tointermetiate

f(R)

?

Insecticide Resistance Status of Spodopterafrugiperda in Brazil

Bt crops in Brazil

Source: CTNBio (2014)

Crop Bt protein(s)

Cotton Cry1AcCry1Ac/Cry1FCry1Ac/Cry2Ab2Cry1Ab/Cry2Ae

Corn Cry1Ab

Cry1FCry1A.105/Cry2Ab2VIP3Aa20Cry1Ab/VIP3Aa20

Cry1A.105/Cry2Ab2/Cry1F

Cry1Ab/Cry1F

Cry1A.105/Cry2Ab2/Cry3Bb1

Soybean Cry1Ac

Spodoptera frugiperdaFall armyworm

Helicoverpa zeaCorn earworm

Diatraea saccharalisSugarcane borer

Bt maize in Brazil:Key Target Pests at Risk

2013/14 p

Source: CÉLERES® | % of total maize area | Updated in August 2013

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 p

Total 1st Season 2nd Season

Adoption of transgenic maize technology in Brazil(% cultivated area)

Resistance Monitoring of S. frugiperda to Cry1F

Farias et al. (2014)

Discriminating concentration: 2.000 ng cm-2

Frequency of Resistance of S. frugiperda to Cry1F

Farias et al. (2014)

Bt crop Refuge

Suscetível

Resistente

Refuge Area

Susceptibleor

Resistant?

SusceptibleResistant

Depend on the Bt protein and concentration expressed in the plant

% Mortality(Probit)

Log Concentration of Bt toxin

SS RS RR

A

Concentration A Resistance is functionally DOMINANT

Low dose or high dose?Low or High Dose

% Mortality(Probit)

Log Concentration of Bt toxin

SS RS RR

A B

Concentration A Resistance is functionally DOMINANT

Concentration B Resistance is functionally RECESSIVE

Low dose or high dose?Low or High Dose

Assuming Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium

Allele frequency:

f(R) = p = 0.001 (10-3)f(S) = q = 0.999

Genotypic frequency: in 1 million

f(RR) = p2 = 0.000001 1

f(RS) = 2pq = 0.001998 1,998

f(SS) = q2 = 0.998001 998,001

% Mortality(Probit)

Concentration of Cry1F

SS RS RR

High Efficacy kill 100% of SS individuals but is not a high-dose eventSome RS individuals can survive on Bt maize plants

Spodoptera frugiperdaCry1F High Efficacy

Farias (2014)

Alabama argillaceaCotton leafworm

Heliothis virescensTobbaco budworm

Pectinophora gossypiellaPink bollworm

Bt cotton in Brazil:Key Target Pests at Risk

• Cry1Ac (2005) 20% refuge area

Alabama argillaceaCotton leafworm

Heliothis virescensTobacco budworm

Spodoptera frugiperdaFall armyworm

Pectinophora gossypiellaPink bollworm

Chrysodeixis ncludensSoybean looper

Bt cotton in Brazil:Key Target Pests at Risk

Helicoverpa armigeraCry1AcCry1Ac + Cry2AbCry1Ac + Cry1FCry1Ab + Cry2Ae

20% Refuge

Anticarsia gemmatalisVelvetbean caterpillar

Chrysodeixis includensSoybean looper

Heliothis virescensTobacco budworm

Bt soybean in Brazil:Key Target Pests

Helicoverpa armigeraCry1Ac 20% Refuge

Intense selection pressure with Bt crops

High Risk of Resistance Evolution to Bt crops

• Intense selection pressure with different Bt crops

• Not a high-dose or pyramid event to major target pests

• Low refuge compliance

Bt crops Changes in pest population dynamics

Bt Corn

Spodoptera frugiperdaHelicoverpa spp.Stink bugs & other bugsAphidsWhiteflies

Bt Cotton

Spodoptera frugiperdaS. eridaniaS. cosmioidesHelicoverpa armigeraHeliothis virescensChrysodeixis includensStink bugs and other bugsWhitefliesSpider mites

Bt Soybean

Spodoptera frugiperdaS. eridaniaS. cosmioidesHelicoverpa armigeraHeliothis virescensChrysodeixis includensStink bugs & other bugsWhitefliesSpider mites

• Prefer high dose Bt crops expressing at least 2 proteins with different mode of action

• Promote implementation of structured refuges (ideally 50%) (and alternative hosts)

• Crop calendar (crop-free period) • Exploit biological control agents• Chemical control

Need to integrate Bt crops with other pest control tactics

Academia Industry

Farmers,Consultants

Major Challenge for enhancing crop yield in Brazil

Education, Research and Regulatory Issues

Thank you and Happy 150 year Anniversary to BASF!