In vitro study of survival fitness of fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda to Bt maize along with solanaceous crops grown in district Faisalabad, Pakistan

Abstract A preliminary study evaluated the survival fitness of fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) against genetically modified Bt maize along with solanaceous crops grown in periurban areas of District Faisalabad. Experimental insects were collected from infested Bt maize, eggplant, and tomato. Laboratory observations were performed for the larval and pupal developmental duration, pupal weight, survival rate, male and female longevity, and female fecundity. Our data reveals that FAW does not have the potential to complete its life cycle on eggplant, whereas tomato and Bt maize served as preferred hosts. Larval feeding duration was significantly different among the plants, and the Pupal developmental period was observed the longest on Bt maize, accompanied by reduced pupal weight (0.04 g). Survival rate was the highest with tomato as a food source, and significant differences in female fecundity were also observed, with tomato yielding the highest number of eggs (943.95), and the performance ranking of FAW was: tomato > Bt maize > eggplant. These preliminary findings help devise sustainable management strategies for the fall army arm a notorious insect pest of maize, which further help save the Pakistan maize industry.