Assessment of newer molecules for the management of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on maize in India

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to manage the maize fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith (Lepidop tera: Noctuidae) at Maize Research Centre, Agricultural Research Institute, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during kharif, 2020 and kharif, 2021. Seven newer insecticide molecules were tested for their efficacy viz., Chlorantraniliprole 9.3%+Lambda cyhalothrin 4.6% ZC @ 0.5 ml L−1, Novaluron 5.25%+Emamectin benzoate 0.9% w/w SC @ 2 ml L−1, Emamectin benzoate 5% SG @ 0.4 g L−1, Spinetoram 11.7% w/w SC @ 0.5 ml L−1, Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC @ 0.4 ml L−1, Flubendiamide 480 FS @ 0.3 ml L−1, Cyantraniliprole 19.8%+Thiamethoxam 19.8% w/w FS @ 6 ml/kg seed and a untreated check served as the control. The treatments were laid out in Complete Randomized Block Design and replicated thrice. The mean per cent infestation was less in the plots treated with Chlorantraniliprole 9.3% +Lambdacyhalothrin 4.6% ZC @ 0.5 ml L−1 (3.71) followed by Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC@ 0.4 ml L−1 (3.78), Novaluron 5.25%+Emamectin benzoate 0.9% w/w SC @ 2 ml L−1 (4.46), Spinetoram 11.7% w/w SC @ 0.5 ml L−1 (4.57) and Emamectin benzoate 5% SG @ 0.4 g L−1 (4.62) and all the treatments were found to be statistically on par with each other. The lowest mean Leaf Injury Rating (LIR) was recorded in the treatment of Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC @ 0.4 ml L−1 (1.52) followed by Spinetoram 11.7% w/w SC @0.5 ml L−1 (1.52), Chlorantraniliprole 9.3%+Lambdacyhalothrin 4.6% ZC @ 0.5 ml L−1 (1.63). At harvest, ear damage rating was significantly low with Chlorantraniliprole 9.3%+Lambdacyhalothrin 4.6% ZC @ 0.5 ml L−1 (1.23) followed by Novaluron 5.25%+Emamectin benzoate 0.9% w/w SC @ 2 ml L−1 (1.27), Flubendiamide 480 FS @ 0.3 ml L−1 (1.31), Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC @ 0.4 ml L−1 (1.40) and Spinetoram 11.7% w/w SC @ 0.5 ml L−1 (1.40). The grain yield was highest in Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC @ 0.4 ml L−1 with 90.19 qha−1 followed by Spinetoram 11.7% w/w SC @ 0.5 ml L−1 88.33 qha−1