Abstract
The use of genetically modified varieties tolerant to herbicides (HT varieties) and resistant to insects (Bt varieties) in combination with application of a broad-spectrum herbicide such as glyphosate could be an effective option for the simultaneous control of weeds and pests in maize. Nevertheless, the possible impact of these tools on nontarget arthropods still needs to be evaluated. In a field study in central Spain, potential changes in populations of canopy-dwelling arthropods in Bt maize under different weed management options, including glyphosate application, were investigated. Canopy-dwelling arthropods were sampled by visual inspection and yellow sticky traps. The Bt variety had no effect on any group of studied arthropods, except for the expected case of corn borers-the target pests of Bt maize. Regarding the effects of herbicide regimes, the only observed difference was a lower abundance of Cicadellidae and Mymaridae on yellow sticky traps in plots not treated with pre-emergence herbicides. This effect was especially pronounced in a treatment involving two glyphosate applications. The decrease in Cicadellidae and Mymaridae populations was associated with a higher density of weeds in plots, which may have hindered colonization of the crop by leafhoppers. These differences, however, were only significant in the last year of the study. The low likelihood of the use of glyphosate- and herbicide-tolerant varieties for weed control triggering important effects on the nontarget arthropod fauna of the maize canopy is discussed.
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Claims 5
Claim · model-written summary
In a field study the Bt maize variety had no effect on any group of studied arthropods except the target corn borers.
- Treatment
- Bt varietye0
- Interactor
- arthropodsArthropodae0other
- Outcome
- any group of studied arthropodse0
- Direction
- no effecte0
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“The Bt variety had no effect on any group of studied arthropods, except for the expected case of corn borers-the target pests of Bt maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Abundance of Cicadellidae and Mymaridae on yellow sticky traps was lower in plots not treated with pre-emergence herbicides; this was the only observed herbicide-regime difference.
- Treatment
- not treated with pre-emergence herbicidese0
- Interactor
- CicadellidaeCicadellidaee0other
- Outcome
- abundance of Cicadellidae and Mymaridaee0
- Direction
- lowere0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“the only observed difference was a lower abundance of Cicadellidae and Mymaridae on yellow sticky traps in plots not treated with pre-emergence herbicides”
Claim · model-written summary
The lower arthropod abundance was especially pronounced in the treatment with two glyphosate applications.
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“This effect was especially pronounced in a treatment involving two glyphosate applications”
Claim · model-written summary
The decrease in Cicadellidae and Mymaridae populations was associated with a higher density of weeds in plots.
- Treatment
- higher density of weedse0
- Interactor
- weedse0weed
- Outcome
- decrease in Cicadellidae and Mymaridae populationse0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“The decrease in Cicadellidae and Mymaridae populations was associated with a higher density of weeds in plots”
Claim · model-written summary
The differences were significant only in the last year of the study.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“These differences, however, were only significant in the last year of the study”