Screening of Maize Genotypes for their Resistance to Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) under Artificial Infestation

The present study was undertaken to identify resistant maize genotypes against fall armyworm, which were screened in a net house under artificial infestation in a randomized complete block design at Winter Nursery Centre, ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during rabi 2023–24. The experimental material consisted of 19 diverse maize genotypes (Table 1). Each genotype was sown in a 2 m row and replicated thrice under randomized complete block design (RBD) in an insect screening net house facility. The tested genotypes were cultivated according to the recommended agronomic practices, with 60 and 20 cm spacing between rows and plants, respectively. Each genotype was released with 20 fall armyworm neonate larvae using a camel hair brush at the V5 phenological stage. The observations on leaf damage rating were taken on the 7th,14th, and 21st days after larval release based on leaf damage rating on a 1 to 9 scale. Among the tested genotypes, the leaf damage score ranged from 3.53 to 7.50 at 14 days after larval infestation. The genotypes namely CML 71 (3.53) and DMRE 63 (3.76) were found to be resistant while the genotypes namely HUZM 189 (4.13), CML 144 (4.36), CML 67 (4.50) CML 73 (4.56), CML-563 -B (4.60), CML 426 (4.66), CML-547 (W) (4.66), MIL 7-38-3 (4.66), CML 327 (5.03), VSL 16 (5.06), QIL 7-273 (5.26), MIL 7-102-2 (5.33), CML 33 (5.40), and MIL 7-16-163 (5.63) were found moderately resistant. At the same time, the remaining genotypes V 372 (6.06), CM 202 (7.33), and BML 6 (7.50) were found susceptible. The identified resistant genotypes (DMRE 63 and CML 71) can be used in resistant breeding.