Potential of silicon to improve biological control of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, on maize

Authors: ZIMBA, KENNEDY - University Of Zambia; Read, Quentin; HASSEB, MUHAMMAD - Florida A & M University; Meagher, Robert - Rob; Legaspi, Jesusa

Submitted to: Agriculture Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/7/2022
Publication Date: 9/9/2022
Citation: Zimba, K., Read, Q.D., Hasseb, M., Meagher Jr, R.L., Legaspi, J.C. 2022. Potential of silicon to improve biological control of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, on maize. Agriculture Journal. 12(9):1432. https://doi.org/10.90/agriculture12091432.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12091432

Interpretive Summary: Fall armyworm (FAW) is native to the Western Hemisphere where it is found from southern Canada to southern Argentina. It was found in west Africa in 2016 and quickly spread to all countries in sub-Saharan Africa. It is now been found in India and other countries in Asia. There is an urgent need for additional components for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs as control options that are cost effective and sustainable for low-income farmers. The addition of silicon to the soil has been shown to amplify the defense of plants against various pests but may have a cost to beneficial insects. A scientist from the University of Zambia, from Florida A&M University, in collaboration with scientists from USDA-ARS, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology in Tallahassee and Gainesville, Florida, assessed whether the application of silicon to maize plants would interfere with the attraction of a predatory stink bug to the plants. The results showed that there was no deterrence effect by the silicon to the stink bug. This suggests that the use of silicon should be evaluated as an addition to IPM programs for control of pest insects of maize.

Technical Abstract: Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (FAW) is native to the Western Hemisphere where it is found from southern Canada to southern Argentina. It is a primary pest on maize, but also attacks a wide range of crop plants. It was found in west Africa in 2016 and quickly spread to all countries in sub-Saharan Africa. It is now been found in India and other countries in Asia. There is an urgent need for additional components for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs as control options that are cost effective and sustainable for low-income farmers. The addition of silicon to the soil has been shown to amplify the defense of plants against various pests but may have a cost to beneficial insects. Studies assessed whether the application of silicon to maize plants would interfere with the attraction of a predatory stink bug, Euthyrhynchus floridanus (L.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), to the plants. The results showed that there was no negative effect by the silicon to this generalist predator. This suggests that the use of silicon should be evaluated as an addition to IPM programs for control of pest insects of maize.