Biotic Potential Induced by Different Host Plants in the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a polyphagous insect pest of many important crops. To evaluate the influence of host plants on the biology and survival of the Pakistani population of S. frugiperda, we examined life table parameters of S. frugiperda raised on maize, sorghum, wheat, and rice. The development rate was significantly higher on the maize crop than on the other three host plants. Different larval diets affected development time and fecundity. S. frugiperda attained the fastest larval development (16 days) on maize and the slowest development (32.74 days) on rice. Adult females from maize-fed larvae laid 1088 eggs/female, those from sorghum-fed larvae laid 591.6 eggs/female, those from wheat-fed larvae laid 435.6 eggs/female, and those from rice-fed larvae laid 49.6 eggs/female. Age stage-specific parameters also indicated the higher fecundity, higher life expectancy, and higher survival of S. frugiperda on maize plants than on the other three hosts. Larval diets had a significant varying effect on the finite and intrinsic increase rates, reflecting that maize was the most suitable diet. The findings of the present study are useful for predicting population dynamics especially in areas cultivating Poaceae crops, except maize, to develop sustainable integrated pest management strategies for this pest.

Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Life Table Comparisons and Gut Microbiome Analysis Reared on Corn Varieties

“…In lepidopteran larvae, the gut microbial community changes as they grow, with Enterococcus and Clostridium species [18,20] dominating in young larval stages and the family Firmicutes (over 97%) dominating in the mature larval stage before pre-pupal stages. The family Firmicutes was the most (relative abundance 97%) dominant microbiota in the gut of FAW in this study, which was consistent with the findings of Li et al [30] in FAW, Broderick et al [49] in Lymantria dispar, Priya et al [50] in Helicoverpa armigera, Xia et al [34] in Plutella Xylostella and Chen et al [51] in Bombyx Mori.…”

“…Population dynamics and the status of pests in the field are significantly influenced by demographic studies [17,18]. Although maize is FAW's preferred crop [19], other crops can serve as acceptable hosts in the absence of maize crops [20]. Around 70% of corn yield loss in some parts of China and India is caused by the presence of FAW, and research has been conducted on the evaluation of the preference of each variety and the impact on growth [15,21,22].…”

Fungal seed treatments of cotton affect boll weevil development

“…Plant samples were collected at 28 days post‐inoculation (DPI) to evaluate the presence or absence of the treated fungi. Plants were washed free of soil with distilled water, surface‐sterilized with 70% ethanol for 2 min, followed by 1% NaOCl for 3 min, rinsed three times in sterile distilled water, and dried on sterile paper 13,45 . After sterilization, sterilized scalpels were used to cut the plant tissues into 1‐cm 2 leaf fragments or 1‐cm stem and root fragments.…”

“…Plants were washed free of soil with distilled water, surface-sterilized with 70% ethanol for 2 min, followed by 1% NaOCl for 3 min, rinsed three times in sterile distilled water, and dried on sterile paper. 13,45 After sterilization, sterilized scalpels were used to cut the plant tissues into 1-cm 2 leaf fragments or 1-cm stem and root fragments. For each inoculated plant, we incubated five pieces of leaf, root, and stem on a PDA plate at 25 ± 1 °C in the dark.…”

Population Growth of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda Fed on Cereal and Pulse Host Plants Cultivated in Yunnan Province, China

“…Differences in host plants significantly impact the population growth, development, and survival rates of phytophagous insect pests [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. The population growth of any insect pest can be affected by the nutrition and characteristics of its host plant [ 21 , 23 , 24 ]. The life history features of phytophagous insect pests, such as survival rate, development, reproduction, and population growth are influenced by nutritional variations among host plants on which insects feed throughout the larval stage [ 20 , 25 , 26 , 27 ].…”