Leaf Damage Based Phenotyping Technique and Its Validation Against Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E....

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Entomology
• Plant Breeding

Background:

• Maize is a globally significant cereal crop, vital for food security.
• The invasive fall armyworm (FAW) poses a significant biotic constraint to maize productivity in India.
• Developing FAW-resistant maize genotypes is crucial for effective integrated pest management (IPM).

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize screening techniques for fall armyworm (FAW) resistance in maize under Indian conditions.
• To validate the optimized screening technique by identifying potentially resistant maize genotypes.
• To aid in the development of FAW-resistant maize varieties for improved crop protection.

Main Methods:

• Development and description of a leaf damage rating (LDR) scale (1-9) to assess FAW injury.
• Artificial infestation of maize genotypes with 20 neonate FAW larvae at the V5 phenological stage.
• Evaluation of LDR variations based on genotype, larval count, and days post-infestation.

Main Results:

• The optimized screening technique, using LDR and artificial infestation, effectively characterized maize genotypes.
• Genotypes DMRE 63, DML-163-1, CML 71, CML 141, CML 337, CML 346, and Zea mays ssp. parviglumis showed lower LDR.
• These identified genotypes are potentially resistant to fall armyworm (FAW) under the tested conditions.

Conclusions:

• The optimized screening method is suitable for identifying FAW-resistant maize genotypes in India.
• Selected genotypes demonstrate potential for exploitation in breeding programs to develop resistant maize varieties.
• This research contributes to developing sustainable strategies for managing fall armyworm (FAW) in maize.