TITLE:
Simulation of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) Attacks and the Compensative Response of Quality Protein Maize (Zea mays, var. Mudishi-1 and Mudishi-3) in Southwestern DR Congo
AUTHORS:
Jean Pierre Kabongo Tshiabukole, Gertrude Pongi Khonde, André Matondo Phongo, Nlandu Ngoma, Amand Mbuya Kankolongo, Roger Kizungu Vumilia, Antoine Mumba Djamba
KEYWORDS:
QPM, Yield Losses, Growth Stage, FAW, Rate Damage
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.8 No.3,
March
31,
2021
ABSTRACT: In this paper, to assess the varietal ability to compensate defoliation damage caused by the fall armyworm, a trial was carried out at the INERA Mvuazi research center. The aim of this study was to determine the limit threshold of damage that could cause the significant loss of the harvest of the quality protein maize distributed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To do this, three factors including two varieties (Mudishi-1 and Mudishi-3) of quality protein maize, four rating damage and two growth stages were used into a factorial design with 3 replications. Simulation of damage caused by FAW consisted of cutting of blades for all visible leaves of plants. Damage rates simulating leaf destroying were 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%, occurring at two growth stages: stage V3 (2 to 4 weeks after emergence) and stage V7 (flowering stage). Results showed that damage factor combined with growth stage factor significantly influenced (p