Planting date in South Kivu, eastern DR Congo: A real challenge for the sustainable management of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) by smallholder farmers.

ABSTRACT: There is growing research interest in the fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda, a polyphagous insect that is a major pest of maize crops worldwide. We investigated the relationship between planting date of maize and FAW infestation in South Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in two sampling seasons (September to October 2020 and February to March 2021). Five planting dates were considered for 45 fields in each season. The incidence, severity of attack and larval density of FAW were assessed at the 8-leaf stage (V8) of maize development in monoculture and intercropping systems. Planting period, classified as late or early, had a strong influence on FAW larval density, incidence and severity. The results showed that the late planting period (mainly on 30 October in season-1 and

SUBMITTER: Cokola MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11611118 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature