Effects of different corn varieties on development and reproduction of Spodoptera frugiperda

Abstract

To understand the damage capability of the invasive pest Spodoptera frugiperda on diffe-rent corn varieties in China, we evaluated survival fitness of S. frugiperda on three varieties of sweet corn (i.e., Suitian No.1, Zhengtian 68, and Huajintian No.1) and three varieties of waxy corn (i.e., Jingkenuo 2000, Guangheitiannuo, and Guangnuo No.1) by constructing life table for all populations. The correlation of biological parameters of S. frugiperda to the main nutrients and crude fiber content in corn leaves were analyzed. Results showed that the larva survival rate, pupal weight, and production of S. frugiperda on sweet corns were significantly higher than those on waxy corns. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) of S. frugiperda on the sweet corns ranged from 0.1566 to 0.1843, and the net reproductive rate (R0) ranged from 187.97 to 353.35, being higher than those reared on the waxy corns (rm was from 0.0998 to 0.1465, and R0 was from 25.89 to 95.34). S. frugiperda reared on the sweet corns had higher population growth ability than those reared on the waxy corns. The content of main nutrients such as vitamin C, starch, soluble sugar, protein, fat, total amino acids, and crude fiber in the sweet corn leaves were higher than those in the waxy corn leaves. There were positive correlations between R0 of S. frugiperda to the contenst of vitamin C, starch, soluble sugar, protein, and crude fiber in corn leaves. The results indicated that S. frugiperda reared on the sweet corn leaves had higher survival fitness than those reared on the waxy corn leaves.