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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Griffin, Georgia » Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #291651
Title: Antibiosis among selected paspalum taxa to the fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Author
item BRAMAN, KRIS - University Of Georgia
item RAYMER, PAUL - University Of Georgia
item Harrison, Melanie
item NAIR, SHAKUNTHALA - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Journal of Entomological Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/29/2013
Publication Date: 1/30/2014
Citation: Braman, K., Raymer, P.L., Harrison Dunn, M.L., Nair, S. 2014. Antibiosis among selected paspalum taxa to the fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Journal of Entomological Science. 49(1):11-20.

Interpretive Summary: Twenty six accessions of the warm-season perennial grass, Paspalum spp.,were evaluated for response to the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith),an important pest of turfgrass. In growth chamber studies,leaf clippings were collected and fed to fall armyworm larvae. Larval and pupal weights were measured to determine if the fall armyworms were feeding on the leaf clippings. Larval and pupal weights were higher for P. vaginatum 03-539-31 and P. vaginatum 03-525-22 indicating the fall amyworm larvae preferred these plants. Also, days to develop to pupal stage where lower. For plants of PI 404449 (P. ionanthum), PI 422024 (P. notatum var. saurae), PI 310146 (P. notatum), PI 286486 (P. thunbergii) and PI 462298 (P. quadrifarium), larval and pupal weights were lowest indicating that the fall armyworm larvae did not prefer feeding on these plants. In greenhouse studies, fall armyworm larvae were placed on whole plants. Again, fall armyworms preferred plants of P. vaginatum 03-539-31and P. vaginatum 03-525-22 as indicated by an increase in larval and pupal weights and decrease in number of days to develop to pupal stage. The least preferred plants were PI 404449 (P. ionanthum), PI 422024 (P. notatum var. saurae), PI 310146 (P. notatum), PI 286486 (P. thunbergii) and PI 282807 (P. macrophyllum). The plants not preferred by the fall armyworms are considered resistant hosts (as opposed to susceptible). This information can be used by plant breeders to develop cultivars resistant to fall armyworms. The resistant cultivars would serve as an important component in Integrated Plant Management strategy for turfgrasses.

Technical Abstract: Twenty six accessions of the warm-season perennial grass, Paspalum spp., were evaluated for response to the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), an important pest of turfgrass. In growth chamber, excised clipping studies, P. vaginatum 03-539-31 and P. vaginatum 03-525-22 were the most suitable (susceptible) hosts, as measured by larval and pupal weights and days to develop to pupal stage, whereas PI 404449 (P. ionanthum), PI 422024 (P. notatum var. saurae), PI 310146 (P. notatum), PI 286486 (P. thunbergii) and PI 462298 (P. quadrifarium) were least suitable (resistant). In greenhouse studies on whole plants using 10 Paspalum spp. accessions, P. vaginatum 03-539-31.and P. vaginatum 03-525-22 were the most suitable (susceptible) hosts, as measured by larval and pupal weights and days to develop to pupal stage. The least suitable (resistant) hosts were PI 404449 (P. ionanthum), PI 422024 (P. notatum var. saurae), PI 310146 (P. notatum), PI 286486 (P. thunbergii) and PI 282807 (P. macrophyllum). Information on susceptibility of various Paspalum cultivars can inform plant breeding programs in development of pest-resistant grasses, a foundational IPM strategy.