ABSTRACT

This review presents the state of the art and progress made in the development of plant resistance against the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda. (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Evidence of problems exists with the different strains of the FAW that have been identified. However, more significant progress (publications, and discovery and development of germplasm) for plant resistance has been made during the last 15 years than any time since this insect was recognized as a serious economic pest. Advances have been made in mass rearing the FAW, infestation methodologies with larvae, and rating and measurement systems for laboratory and field investigations. Resistant maize, sorghum, bermudagrass, and centipedegrass germplasm have been discovered, developed and released. Resistant germplasm has been used by private industry and growers to limit damage and/or reduce the number of FAW`s. The mechanisms of resistance have been delineated with each crop-FAW interaction and, in some cases, were studied at different plant growth stages. The bases of the resistance have been discovered in some crop-FAW relationships (e.g., maize, silks, millet, and centipedegrass). The impact of resistant cultivars on the FAW has been documented as well as the benefits of combining other integrated pest management control tactics (IPM) with plant resistance to reduce FAW damage. Multiple resistance in resistant cultivars of maize, sorghum and millet attacked in sequence would result in 3.4 times less moths or 6.7 times less eggs on resistant cultivars than on susceptible cultivars.