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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Crop Science Research Laboratory » Corn Host Plant Resistance Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #408633
Research Project: Genetic Improvement of Maize for Resistance to Aflatoxin Accumulation and Fall Armyworm Damage

Location: Corn Host Plant Resistance Research

Title: Resistance of germplasm enhancement of maize inbred lines to fall armyworm and corn earworm

Author
item Woolfolk, Sandra
item Ni, Xinzhi
item Krakowsky, Matthew
item Matthews, Gerald - Boo

Submitted to: Journal of Crop Improvement
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2024
Publication Date: 5/10/2024
Citation: Woolfolk, S.W., Ni, X., Krakowsky, M.D., Matthews Jr, G.A. 2024. Resistance of germplasm enhancement of maize inbred lines to fall armyworm and corn earworm. Journal of Crop Improvement. 38(3):179-188. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427528.2024.2336258.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15427528.2024.2336258

Interpretive Summary: Corn is a global important crop. Fall armyworm and corn earworm are two important insect pests in the southern United States. Fall armyworm mainly causes damage in corn leaves and corn earworm attacks the top part of corn ear. Germplasm Enhancement of Maize (GEM) project is one way to find new sources of resistance against insect pests. We used selected GEM lines by conducting trials in the corn field. Corn plants were infested at the whorl stage with fall armyworm first stage of larvae and evaluated for leaf-feeding damage 14 days after infestation. At a later date, corn plants were also evaluated for ear-feeding damage based on natural infestation by corn earworm. Leaf-feeding damage values in Tifton were lower than at Mississippi State. Three GEM lines which were GEMN-0259, GEMS-0311, and GEMS-0312 showed similar resistant levels with the resistant control line (Mp708) on leaf-feeding damage in Tifton. Ear-feeding ratings in Tifton and Mississippi State were similar. GEMS-0311 showed the most resistant to ear-feeding damage in both locations. GEMS-0311 with resistance to both insects could be used for new germplasm development.

Technical Abstract: Maize is an important crop worldwide. Fall armyworm (FAW) and corn earworm (CEW) are major insect pests in the southern United States. FAW primarily attacks maize leaves and CEW causes damage in the upper part of ear. An effort to obtain new sources for resistance is conducted through Germplasm Enhancement of Maize (GEM) project. Plants were infested at the whorl growth stage with FAW neonates and evaluated for leaf-feeding damage 14 days after infestation. Plants were evaluated for ear-feeding damage based on natural infestation by CEW. Leaf-feeding damage values in Tifton were lower than at Mississippi State. GEMN-0259, GEMS-0311, and GEMS-0312 exhibited similar resistant levels with the resistant check (Mp708) on leaf-feeding damage in Tifton. Ear-feeding ratings in Tifton and Mississippi State were similar. GEMS-0311 showed the most resistant to ear-feeding damage in both environments. GEMS-0311 with resistance to both FAW and CEW could be used for new germplasm development.