The fall armyworm (FAW) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) has now become an invasive pest of global concern. The pest was first detected in Central and Western Africa in early 2016. Sustainable management options explored by stakeholders during early FAW invasion in Africa included the use of biopesticides and biological control. The current study aimed to compare the susceptibility of FAW larvae to SfMNPV with the assumption that the virus isolated from FAW populations in Africa has higher virulence compared with an isolate from Argentina (SfMNPV-ARG). We also hypothesized that host plant plays a role in SfMNPV efficacy and that cannibalism mediates horizontal and vertical transmission of the virus. This work provides pioneering data on the virulence of the new SfMNPV isolate from Nigeria (SfMNPV-KA1), which proved more effective than its exotic counterpart from Argentina (SfMNPV-ARG). The host plant effect made a significant difference between maize and onion with more FAW death in the larvae fed with contaminated onion 5 days post treatment. The study demonstrates and discusses the effect of cannibalism on virus transmission.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11049893 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/insects15040225 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
AM fungus plant colonization rather than an Epichloë endophyte attracts fall armyworm feeding.
Mycorrhiza
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China.
Most cold-season grasses can be colonized by belowground arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and foliar grass endophytes (Epichloë) simultaneously while also be attacked by insect herbivores. The colonization of AM fungi or the presence of grass endophytes is associated with increased resistance by the host plant. However, studies on how these two symbionts affect host plants and mitigate insect pest attack are currently lacking.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe role of social-psychological factors in the adoption of push-pull technology by small-scale farmers in East Africa: Application of the theory of planned behavior.
Heliyon
January 2025
Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Atatürk University, Yakutiye, Erzurum, 25240, Türkiye.
Push-pull technology (PPT) continues to gain relevance among smallholder farmers across the East African region in managing the constraints affecting cereal crop yields including stemborers, fall armyworm, striga weed, and low soil fertility. While previous research has emphasized the significance of socioeconomic factors in explaining farmers' decisions to adopt PPT, the social-psychological factors that influence farmers' adoption intentions have not been extensively studied. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of social-psychological factors on the intention to adopt or increase the land area under PPT based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTranscriptome and Neuroendocrinome Responses to Environmental Stress in the Model and Pest Insect .
Int J Mol Sci
January 2025
Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China.
The fall armyworm, , is one of the most notorious pest insects, causing damage to more than 350 plant species, and is feared worldwide as an invasive pest species since it exhibits high adaptivity against environmental stress. Here, we therefore investigated its transcriptome responses to four different types of stresses, namely cold, heat, no water and no food. We used brain samples as our interest was in the neuroendocrine responses, while previous studies used whole bodies of larvae or moths.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDisruption of midgut homeostasis by microplastics in Spodoptera frugiperda: Insights into inflammatory and oxidative mechanisms.
J Hazard Mater
January 2025
Engineering Research Center of Biocontrol, Ministry of Education Guangdong Province, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510640, China. Electronic address:
Microplastics have evolved as widespread contaminants in terrestrial and aquatic environments, raising significant environmental concerns due to their persistence and bioaccumulation. In this study, we investigated the toxicity of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) on the agricultural insect, Spodoptera frugiperda. Maize leaves containing three sizes (0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMolecular evidence for the role of the ovipositor of the fall armyworm: Where to lay or not to lay?
Insect Sci
January 2025
Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control on Fruits and Vegetables in South China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, China.
Oviposition behavior in insects has received considerable attention, but studies have mainly focused on the antennae, neglecting the role of the ovipositor. In this study, we investigated the functional characteristics of the ovipositor in oviposition site selection by the fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda, a destructive invasive pest of maize and other cereals. In oviposition choice assays females exhibited significant repellency to isothiocyanate (ITC), volatiles specific to non-preferred cruciferous plants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!