Aug 2026· Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology· Vol 29, pp. 692-698· 0 citations
Abstract
Background: Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith) is an invasive insect pest of maize that can cause substantial foliar damage and adversely affect crop production. Host-plant resistance offers a sustainable and environmentally compatible approach for managing this pest; however, information on resistance in diverse maize germplasm remains limited. Therefore, identifying resistant genotypes is important for supporting the development of fall armyworm-resistant maize.
Aims: The present study screened 25 maize genotypes for resistance to the invasive insect pest fall armyworm under artificial infestation conditions.
Study Design: A randomised block design (RBD) with three replications was used.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted during Kharif 2025 at the Winter Nursery Centre, ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad.
Methodology: Fall armyworm larvae were reared on a chickpea-casein-based artificial diet, and first instar neonates were released onto plants at the V5 phenological stage. Leaf damage rating (LDR) was scored on a 1-9 scale at 7, 14, and 21 days after infestation (DAI); genotypes were categorised as resistant (1-3), moderately resistant (3-6), and susceptible (6-9).
Results: The LDR at 14 days after infestation varied from 2.58 to 7.34 across genotypes. Three genotypes, CML 71 (2.81), DMRE-63 (2.58), and CML 67 (2.92), were classified as resistant; 19 genotypes were moderately resistant; and three genotypes, MIL 9-1662 (6.2), CM 202 (6.44), and Sarhad HSRB (7.34), were susceptible.
Conclusion: The resistant genotypes identified in this study may serve as valuable sources of resistance for incorporation into maize breeding programmes aimed at developing FAW-resistant genotypes.
The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a devastating pest of maize, and host plant resistance offers a sustainable alternative to chemical control. This study evaluated the resistance of the maize germplasm CH1 against FAW through life table parameters, feeding and oviposition preferences and greenhouse experiment. Results showed that FAW larvae reared on CH1 exhibited significantly prolonged larval development (21.61 d vs. 12.49 d), reduced survival (65.00% vs. 94.00%), and lower fecundity (689.00 vs. 1369.93 eggs per female) compared to those on the susceptible control Huang C. Population parameters, including the intrinsic rate of increase (r) and net reproductive rate (R0), were significantly lower on CH1. Behavioral assays revealed strong feeding and oviposition preferences for Huang C over CH1. Greenhouse experiment confirmed that CH1 plants sustained only minor damage (Davis scale grade 2, resistant), whereas Huang C plants were severely damaged (grade 7, susceptible). These findings demonstrate that CH1 possesses multi-dimensional resistance against FAW, providing a promising genetic resource for breeding FAW-resistant maize varieties and supporting sustainable pest management strategies.
Lingling Li, Peiying Li, Wen-Meng Li et al.· Insects· 0 citations
Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is a destructive invasive pest that poses a serious threat to maize production, necessitating the development of sustainable management strategies. The present study evaluated the efficacy of integrating selective insecticides with Metarhizium anisopliae for the management of fall armyworm under field conditions. Field experiments were conducted at two locations in South Gujarat, India, during the Rabi 2025–26 season using novaluron 5.25 + emamectin benzoate 0.9 SC and thiamethoxam 12.60 + lambda-cyhalothrin 9.50 SC applied alone and in combination with M. anisopliae, along with M. anisopliae alone and an untreated control. Repeated-measures mixed-effects analysis revealed significant treatment effects on plant infestation, leaf damage, cob infestation and cob yield. Among the evaluated treatments, novaluron 5.25 + emamectin benzoate 0.9 SC integrated with M. anisopliae recorded the lowest plant infestation (32.92%), leaf damage score (2.70) and cob infestation (11.01%), and produced the highest cob yield (13.21 t ha⁻¹), representing a 40.53% increase over the untreated control. Although statistically comparable with novaluron 5.25 + emamectin benzoate 0.9 SC applied alone for most parameters, the integrated treatment consistently showed numerically superior performance. In contrast, M. anisopliae applied alone provided only moderate suppression of fall armyworm and lower yield protection than insecticide-based treatments. These findings demonstrate that integrating M. anisopliae with selective insecticides improves fall armyworm management and maize productivity, highlighting its potential as an effective component of integrated pest management (IPM) for sustainable maize production.
Nisarg Panchal, M. Siddhapara, V. M. Khimani et al.· Uttar Pradesh Journal of Zoo...· 0 citations
Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is one of the most destructive invasive pests affecting maize and other cereal crops worldwide. Since its introduction into Africa in 2016, the pest has spread rapidly across Sub-Saharan Africa and several Asian countries, causing significant yield losses and threatening food security. This review evaluated the occurrence and biocontrol potential of natural enemies of fall armyworm through a systematic assessment of published literature obtained from scientific journals, institutional reports, textbooks, conference proceedings, and online databases. Information on the biology, distribution, natural enemies, and biological control strategies of fall armyworm was synthesized and analyzed.The review revealed that fall armyworm possesses high reproductive capacity, broad host range, and strong dispersal ability, enabling rapid establishment in newly invaded regions. Several natural enemies were identified, including parasitoids, predators, bacteria, viruses, and entomopathogenic fungi. Key parasitoids such as Telenomus remus, Trichogramma pretiosum, Chelonus insularis, and Cotesia marginiventris were found to effectively suppress egg and larval populations. Entomopathogenic fungi including Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae demonstrated considerable pathogenicity, with reported mortality rates ranging from 30% to 87%. Predators such as Doru luteipes, ladybird beetles, ants, and carabid beetles also contributed significantly to reducing pest populations.The effectiveness of natural enemies was influenced by environmental conditions, habitat diversity, cropping systems, and pesticide use. Conservation agriculture, habitat management, and reduced reliance on broad-spectrum insecticides enhanced biological control performance. The review concludes that integrating parasitoids, predators, and microbial pathogens into integrated pest management programs provides a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach for managing fall armyworm populations while reducing dependence on synthetic pesticides and promoting long-term agricultural productivity.
Muhammadu Abdulmalik, Murtala Yusu, Abba Amiru Musa· Journal of Basics and Applie...· 0 citations
The inverse relationship between larval weight and development duration highlights the role of maize genotype in influencing FAW growth dynamics, with resistant varieties prolonging development and suppressing larval biomass accumulation.
Susan Asekenye, M. Oyoo, K. Khakame· East African Journal of Agri...· 0 citations
Maize, a major staple crop that is essential for Nepal's food security and rural livelihoods, is increasingly threatened by the invasive fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith), which causes substantial yield losses while farmers' heavy reliance on indiscriminate pesticide use and limited knowledge of sustainable management practices obstruct effective control. Field survey was carried out in six major maize-growing areas of Kathmandu valley- Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur districts to assess the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) incidence, severity and farmers’ management practices during maize growing season in 2024. Semi-structured questionnaires were used for farmer interview , and damage assessment in the field was recorded using a score ranging from 1 to 9 scale based on the reference damage on the scaling of the leaf lesions, scraping of leaf surfaces and visual observations of the damage symptoms. Data analysis and result interpretation were carried out using MS Excel 2016 and SPSS version 29.0.2.0. Results indicated that maize crop damage incidence and severity varied significantly (p<0.05) with p<0.001 at vegetative and p=0.005 reproductive stages. Damage severity was highest in V11 stage during vegetative stage and dough (R4) stage during reproductive stage of maize crop. Similarly, in relation to temperature, the damage was more at temperature range of 25°C to 27°C. The highest infestation (91%) was observed in Kathmandu compared to other two districts. The survey indicates that maize farmers have to focus on agro-ecological adoption approaches like chemical, cultural, physical/mechanical, IPM, biological, and botanical measures for the management of this pest.
Lalit Sah, R. B. Thapa, G. Bhandari et al.· Journal of Agriculture and E...· 0 citations
Introduction. Soil incorporation of Morus alba biomass mitigates Spodoptera frugiperda damage in maize, through the release of bioactive secondary metabolites with antifeedant properties. Objective. To characterize farmer perceptions of Spodoptera frugiperda severity and evaluate the efficacy of Morus alba residue incorporation as a sustainable management strategy in the Mocache canton, Ecuador. Materials and methods. The research was conducted between December 2023 and May 2024. The study consisted of two phases: a survey of farmers and a field experiment. The farmers were surveyed regarding the agronomic practices they implemented to manage S. frugiperda. The experiment was conducted in the locality of Jesús del Gran Poder and consisted of three treatments: i) a control without pest management or residue incorporation (Control); ii) soil incorporation of 1 t ha⁻¹ of a mixture of maize residues (80 %) and fragmented mulberry cv. Tigreada (20 %) (M+M); and iii) the application of methomyl insecticide. The variables of severity of infestation and agricultural yield were evaluated. A randomized complete block design with three treatments and three replicates was employed. Treatment means were compared using Duncan’s multiple range test (α = 0.05). Statistical processing was performed using the InfoStat package. Results. Residue incorporation reduced severe foliar damage (grades 4-5) to 29.6%, significantly lower than the control (36.1%; p < 0.05). Grain yield reached 4.1 t ha⁻¹ with residues, statistically comparable to methomyl (4.6 t ha⁻¹) and 17 % higher than the control (3.5 t ha⁻¹). Conclusions. The high perception of severity of S. frugiperda by farmers corresponds with high levels of infestation, associated with inadequate agronomic practices and poor technical training. The maize and mulberry residues incorporated into the soil reduce severity and allow obtaining yields like the insecticide, validating its effectiveness as a management alternative in Ecuador and similar regions.
R. Gaibor-Fernández, Sergio Rodríguez-Rodríguez, P. Plaza-Zambrano et al.· Agronomía Mesoamericana· 0 citations
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