Applying plant oils to control fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in corn

Abstract

Corn (Zea mays) is one of the world's main agricultural crops, and Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) is its most important pest. In order to find natural controlling alternatives, this study aimed to determine the effect of plant oils on the feeding preference of first-and second-instar caterpillars. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 6 x 5 factorial combination (turmeric, clove, palmarosa, tea tree, common juniper, and neem oils) at five concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 µL mL-1), plus a control consisting of acetone 100.0%, with five replicates per treatment. Twenty-five-day-old corn leaf sections received the corresponding treatments in addition to the control and were deposited along orthogonal axes in an arena arranged in Petri dishes. Ten 1 st instar caterpillars were released at the center of the plates, and results were obtained after 8h and 24h from the release, based on the number of caterpillars found on each treatment. For 1 st instar caterpillars, the best results were observed for clove and palmarosa, which negatively influenced caterpillar feeding activity in both evaluation periods, followed by turmeric oil, which showed the same effectiveness in the last period only. For second-instar caterpillars, the best effects were observed for neem, turmeric, palmarosa, and clove oil in the first evaluation period. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the first three oils was maintained in the second evaluation period. These results emphasize the potential capability of plant oils when used in management programs against this pest, in which the oils of turmeric, clove and palmarosa showing the best controlling potential of this pest from the lowest concentration corresponding to 25 µL mL-1 .

Fall armyworm ( Spodoptera frugiperda ) management by smallholders.

“…Franco et al [74] demonstrated 100% FAW larval mortality with water extracts of seed of Carica papaya at 10% concentration. Plant oils from turmeric, clove, palmarosa and neem were shown to have significant positive effects of protecting maize from first and second instar FAW larvae [75].…”

An introduction of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) with management strategies: a review paper

“…A significant mortality of larvae of FAW has been reported from the use of aqueous seed extract obtained from Carica papaya which is similar to the mortality caused by Malathion (Figueroa-Brito et al, 2013). Similarly, the plant oils obtained from the turmeric, clove, palmarosa and neem have significant effects in controlling first and second instar of FAW larvae (Barbosa et al, 2018). Jirnmci, (2013) and Schmutterer (1985) reported that various botanicals extracts obtained from plants such as Azadirachta indica, Millettia ferruginea, Croton macrostachyus, Phytolacca docendra, Jatropha curcas, Nicotiana tabacum and Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium have been successfully used to control the FAW.…”

Parasitism of Tetrastichus howardi (Ollif, 1893) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) on Chrysodeixis includens (Walker, [1858]) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) pupae at different ages

“…The upper part of the cage was sealed with voile fabric held by elastic gums. The cages were placed on light green plastic trays (adapted from Barbosa et al 2018). After the emergence of the adults, 50 mL plastic cups with a cotton swab soaked in an aqueous solution of honey were introduced into the PVC cages as food for the adults, and this process was used to obtain the adults and their oviposition.…”