What is it about?
The fall armyworm (FAW) is a formidable pest of cereal crops (corn). It can cause yield losses ranging from 15 to 73%. Its incidence varies from one corn variety to another, as well as from one agro-ecological zone (AEZ) to another. Objective of the study was to evaluate the incidence and severity of the FAW attack and its effects on the agronomic performance of six of the most cultivated maize varieties in AEZ III (Foumbot) and V (Ntui) of Cameroon.
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Why is it important?
The six maize varieties proved susceptible to armyworms in the wet and dry seasons respectively in Foumbot (CHH101: 66.67% and 80%, Pop-corn: 71.67% and 83.33%, CHC202: 75% and 86.67%, CMS8704: 83.33% and 100%, CHC201: 76.67% and 83.33%, control variety: 83.33% and 98.33%). Similar observations were made in Ntui. Compared with the control variety, CHH101, Pop-corn and CHC202 proved significantly less susceptible to armyworm incidence. In Foumbot and Ntui respectively, the dry season (88.61% and 78.33%) proved more favorable to the pest proliferation than the rainy season. AEZ III (82%) was more prolific to FAW than AEZ V (70%). CHH101 had the highest yield (t×ha-1) in the rainy and dry seasons respectively at Foumbot (3.34 ± 0.04 and 3.06 ± 0.05) and Ntui (3.45 ± 0.05 and 3.22 ± 0.04). CHH101 has proven to be less sensitive to FAW and more effective in terms of grain yield. Zone III (Foumbot) and the dry season have been shown to be more favorable for the proliferation of FAW.
Perspectives
This work indicates that all six maize varieties tested are susceptible to caterpillars, although the level of susceptibility differs from one variety to another. Although they were all susceptible to varying degrees, the hybrid variety CHH101 demonstrated greater resistance to FAW and higher grain yield than the others. Subject to the multiplication of multi-location trials to confirm the conclusions of this study, the results of this work could help farmers choose the right maize variety to use for optimum productivity in these agro-ecological zones.
Dr Carine TEMEGNE NONO
University of Yaounde I
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Susceptibility of some maize varieties to fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith) in agro-ecological zones III and V of Cameroon, BASE, January 2025, University of Liege,
DOI: 10.25518/1780-4507.21646.
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