Simulation of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) Attacks and the Compensative Response of Quality Protein Maize (Zea mays, var. Mudishi-1 and Mudishi-3) in Southwestern DR Congo

Abstract

In this paper, to assess the varietal ability to compensate defoliation damage caused by the fall armyworm, a trial was carried out at the INERA Mvuazi research center. The aim of this study was to determine the limit threshold of damage that could cause the significant loss of the harvest of the quality protein maize distributed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To do this, three factors including two varieties (Mudishi-1 and Mudishi-3) of quality protein maize, four rating damage and two growth stages were used into a factorial design with 3 replications. Simulation of damage caused by FAW consisted of cutting of blades for all visible leaves of plants. Damage rates simulating leaf destroying were 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%, occurring at two growth stages: stage V3 (2 to 4 weeks after emergence) and stage V7 (flowering stage). Results showed that damage factor combined with growth stage factor significantly influenced (p < 0.05) the yield component variables including yield losses, harvest rate, ear sizes, number of ears harvested and yield as well as the market quality of the ears, based on appearance quotation. Damage rate more than 50%, at all growth stages studied, caused grain losses upper than 50% regardless of variety. However, damage less than 50% at V3 stage resulted in grain losses under 10%. At the end of this study, we showed that the varieties of maize QPM (Mudishi-1 and Mudishi-3) would be able to compensate the damage caused by the FAW and achieve its yield, if the attacks damaging 25% of the leaves occur during V3.