Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) infestation in maize and its management using mulberry organic residues
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15517/rnnkka43Abstract
Introduction. Soil incorporation of Morus alba biomass mitigates Spodoptera frugiperda damage in maize, through the release of bioactive secondary metabolites with antifeedant properties. Objective. To characterize farmer perceptions of Spodoptera frugiperda severity and evaluate the efficacy of Morus alba residue incorporation as a sustainable management strategy in the Mocache canton, Ecuador. Materials and methods. The research was conducted between December 2023 and May 2024. The study consisted of two phases: a survey of farmers and a field experiment. The farmers were surveyed regarding the agronomic practices they implemented to manage S. frugiperda. The experiment was conducted in the locality of Jesús del Gran Poder and consisted of three treatments: i) a control without pest management or residue incorporation (Control); ii) soil incorporation of 1 t ha⁻¹ of a mixture of maize residues (80 %) and fragmented mulberry cv. Tigreada (20 %) (M+M); and iii) the application of methomyl insecticide. The variables of severity of infestation and agricultural yield were evaluated. A randomized complete block design with three treatments and three replicates was employed. Treatment means were compared using Duncan’s multiple range test (α = 0.05). Statistical processing was performed using the InfoStat package. Results. Residue incorporation reduced severe foliar damage (grades 4-5) to 29.6%, significantly lower than the control (36.1%; p < 0.05). Grain yield reached 4.1 t ha⁻¹ with residues, statistically comparable to methomyl (4.6 t ha⁻¹) and 17 % higher than the control (3.5 t ha⁻¹). Conclusions. The high perception of severity of S. frugiperda by farmers corresponds with high levels of infestation, associated with inadequate agronomic practices and poor technical training. The maize and mulberry residues incorporated into the soil reduce severity and allow obtaining yields like the insecticide, validating its effectiveness as a management alternative in Ecuador and similar regions.
Downloads
References
Adnan, S. M., Cattermole, H., Saligari, K., & Spafford, H. (2024). Pastoral grasses and legumes as potential host plants for fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) development. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 44(5), 2339–2346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-024-01331-4
Ain, Q., Mushtaq, W., Shadab, M., & Siddiqui, M. B. (2023). Allelopathy: An alternative tool for sustainable agriculture. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants, 29(4), 495–511. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-023-01305-9
Bahadur, L., & Acharya, B. (2019). Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda): A threat to food security for South Asian country: Control and management options: A review. Farming & Management, 4(1), 38–44. https://doi.org/10.31830/2456-8724.2019.004
Barba, A., Espinosa, J., & Suris, M. (2015). Adopción de prácticas para el manejo agroecológico de plagas en la sandía (Citrullus lanatus Thunb) en Azuero, Panamá. Revista Protección Vegetal, 30(2), 104–114. https://censa.edicionescervantes.com/index.php/RPV/article/view/574
Barkessa, M. K., Degaga, E. G., Duressa, T. F., Muleta, M. G., Amenta, M. W., & Gurmu, A. K. (2025). Factors influencing the current and future distribution of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in Ethiopia. Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 27(3), 377–387. https://doi.org/10.1111/afe.12671
Bayissa, W., Abera, A., Temesgen, J., Abera, G., & Mendesil, E. (2023). Organic soil fertility management practices for the management of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), in maize. Frontiers in Insect Science, 3, Article 1210719. https://doi.org/10.3389/finsc.2023.1210719
Bhosle, D., Srinivasan, T., Elaiyabharathi, T., Shanmugam, P. S., & Vellaikumar, S. (2025). A review on use of botanical extracts for the management of fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith, 1797) (Noctuidae, Lepidoptera). Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, 132(1), Article 17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41348-024-01042-5
Boukari, S. A., Sinzogan, A. A., Deguenon, J. M., Bounonwa, D. A. L., Sossa, E. L., & Amadji, G. L. (2023). Effect of soil type and burial depth on the viability of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) pupae in Benin. Tropical Agriculture, 100(3), 231–249. https://journals.sta.uwi.edu/ojs/index.php/ta/article/view/8481
Burgos, M. A. V., Padilla, D. V. S., Jaramillo, W. A. P., & Bustamante, L. C. (2023). Resistência de Spodoptera frugiperda Smith aos inseticidas fipronil, permetrina, lufenuron e metomil: Resistance of Spodoptera frugiperda Smith to the insecticides fipronil, permethrin, lufenuron and methomyl. Brazilian Journal of Animal and Environmental Research, 6(3), 2452–2464. https://doi.org/10.34188/bjaerv6n3-039
Castillo, Y., & Miranda, I. (2014). COMPAPROP: Sistema para comparación de proporciones múltiples. Revista Protección Vegetal, 29(3), 231–234. https://censa.edicionescervantes.com/index.php/RPV/article/view/528
Castruita-Esparsa, G., Aquino, T., & Ruiz, J. (2017). Nemátodos entomopatógenos, un control biológico para el manejo del gusano cogollero (Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) en maíz, en los valles de Oaxaca, México. Entomología Mexicana, 4, 132–137. https://www.acaentmex.org/entomologia/revista/2018/CB/CB%20170-173.pdf
Chirinos, D. T., Sánchez-Mora, F., Zambrano, F., Castro-Olaya, J., Vasconez, G., Cedeño, G., Pin, K., Zambrano, J., Suarez-Navarrete, V., Proaño, V., Mera-Macias, J., & Vasquez, C. (2024). Entomofauna associated with corn cultivation and damage caused by some pests according to the planting season on the ecuadorian coast. Agronomy, 14(4), Article 748. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040748
Desika, J., Yogendra, K., Hepziba, S. J., Patne, N., Vivek, B. S., Ravikesavan, R., Nair, S. K., Jaba, J., Razak, T. A., Srinivasan, S., & Shettigar, N. (2024). Exploring metabolomics to innovate management approaches for fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda [J. E. Smith]) infestation in maize (Zea mays L.). Plants, 13(17), Article 2451. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13172451
Espinoza, I. D. N., Zenteno, M. D. C., Chávez, J. C., Moreiral, V. N., Solarte, K. E. A., & Intriago, F. L. M. (2018). Propiedades físicas del suelo en diferentes sistemas agrícolas en la provincia de Los Ríos, Ecuador. Temas Agrarios, 23(2), 177–187. https://doi.org/10.21897/rta.v23i2.1301
Evans, L. T., & Fischer, R. A. (1999). Yield potential: Its definition, measurement, and significance. Crop Science, 39(6), 1544–1551. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1999.3961544x
Fonteyne, S., Castillo Caamal, J. B., Lopez-Ridaura, S., Van Loon, J., Espidio Balbuena, J., Osorio Alcalá, L., & Verhulst, N. (2023). Review of agronomic research on the milpa, the traditional polyculture system of Mesoamerica. Frontiers in Agronomy, 5, Article 1115490. https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2023.1115490
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations & Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International. (2019). Community-based fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) monitoring, early warning and management: Training of trainers manual (1st ed.). https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/d89ffd54-600d-4b2c-9dd9-a1cbe441f0d2
Gaibor-Fernández, R., Rodríguez-Rodríguez, S., Reyes-Pérez, J. J., Jiménez-Pizarro, M., González-Rosales, B., Jacas-Vega, L., Rivas-García, T., & Hernández-Montiel, L. G. (2023). Spodoptera frugiperda management in zea mays l. Using vinasse and corn-mulberry mulching. Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 26(1), Article 0XX. https://doi.org/10.56369/tsaes.4541
García-Riaño, J. L., Gómez-Valderrama, J. A., Araque- Echeverry, G. A., Vasquez, D. F., & Villamizar-Rivero, L. F. (2021). Actividad insecticida y persistencia de un formulado a base de Beauveria bassiana para el control de Diatraea saccharalis. Chilean Journal of Agricultural & Animal Sciences, 37(3), 257–269. https://doi.org/10.29393/CHJAAS37-27AIJL50027
Garrido-Jurado, I., Resquín-Romero, G., Yousef-Naef, M., Ríos-Moreno, A., & Quesada-Moraga, E. (2020). Soil drenching with entomopathogenic fungi for control of the soil-dwelling life stages and adults of the same generation of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research, 110(2), 242–248. https://doi.org/10.1017/S000748531900052X
Gomero, L. (2018). La lucha biológica en HECOSAN: Una experiencia de manejo ecológico de plagas. LEISA, 34(1), 22–23. http://www.leisa-al.info/index.php/journal/article/view/200/384
Gvozdenac, S., Kolarov, R., Bursic, V., Konstantinovic, B., Prvulovic, D., & Tanaskovic, S. (2021). Antifeeding and insecticidal activity of Ailanthus altissima and Morus alba extracts against gipsy moth (Lymantria dispar (L.), Lepidoptera, lymantridae) larvae under laboratory conditions. Gazi Entomolojik Arastirmalar Dernegi, 23(3), 197–212. https://doi.org/10.51963/jers.v23i3.1989
Hailu, G., Niassy, S., Zeyaur, K. R., Ochatum, N., & Subramanian, S. (2018). Maize–legume intercropping and push–pull for management of fall armyworm, stemborers, and striga in Uganda. Agronomy Journal, 110(6), 2513–2522. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2018.02.0110
Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. (2024). Encuesta de Superficie y Producción Agropecuaria Continua (ESPAC), Boletín Técnico. https://www.ecuadorencifras.gob.ec/documentos/web-inec/Estadisticas_agropecuarias/espac/2023/Boletin_tecnico_ESPAC_2023.pdf
Landini, F., & Villafuerte-Almeida, I. (2022). Capacitación de extensionistas rurales en América Latina: Prácticas, problemas y propuestas. Revista Electrónica Educare, 26(2), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.15359/ree.26-2.17
Limongi-Andrade, R., Sánchez-Mora, F. D., Mora Yela, R. V., Pico-Mendoza, J., Navarrete-Cedeño, B., Alarcón-Cobeña, D., Peña-Monserrate, G., Ochoa-Ramos, J., Pérez-Almeida, I., & Garcés-Fiallos, F. R. (2024). Agronomic performance, adaptability, and stability of maize hybrids for tropical conditions in Ecuador. Ciencia y Tecnología Agropecuaria, 25(3), Article e3501. https://doi.org/10.21930/rcta.vol25_num3_art:3501
Liu, L., Zheng, H. F., Liu, Z., Ma, Y. Z., Han, H. F., & Ning, T. Y. (2023). Crop–Livestock integration via maize straw recycling increased carbon sequestration and crop production in China. Agricultural Systems, 210, Article 103722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103722
Malekera, M. J., Acharya, R., Mostafiz, M. M., Hwang, H.-S., Bhusal, N., & Lee, K.-Y. (2022). Temperature-dependent development models describing the effects of temperature on the development of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Insects, 13(12), Article 1084. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13121084
Martinez-Martinez, L., Montaño-Montaño, A., & Padilla-Cortés, E. (2019). Daño a maíz por Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) y su muestreo en Oaxaca, México. Entomología Mexicana, 6, 236–241. https://www.acaentmex.org/entomologia/revista/2019/EA/EA%20236-241.pdf
Mestanza-Uquillas, C. A., Cedeño-Cárcamo, P. J., Véliz-Zamora, D. V., Vásquez-Matute, S. C., & Pinargote-Alava, J. J. (2025). Distanciamiento de siembra en Zea mays L. durante la época seca y lluviosa en la costa central del Ecuador. La Granja, 41(1), 151–161. https://doi.org/10.17163/lgr.n41.2025.10
Montezano, D. G., Specht, A., Sosa-Gómez, D. R., Roque-Specht, V. F., Sousa-Silva, J. C., Paula-Moraes, S. V., Peterson, J. A., & Hunt, T. E. (2018). Host plants of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the Americas. African Entomology, 26(2), 286–300. https://doi.org/10.4001/003.026.0286
Muflikhah, N. D. (2023). Larvacidal activity of the mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf extract against larvae of Aedes aegypti. Indonesian Journal of Tropical and Infectious Disease, 11(2), 97–103. https://doi.org/10.20473/ijtid.v11i2.37328
Njuguna, E., Nethononda, P., Maredia, K., Mbabazi, R., Kachapulula, P., Rowe, A., & Ndolo, D. (2021). Experiences and perspectives on spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) management in sub-saharan africa. Journal of Integrated Pest Management, 12(1), Article 7. https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmab002
Pereira, A. V., Lira, M. A., Machado, J. C., Gomide, C. A. M., Martins, C. E., Lédo, F. J. S., & Daher, R. F. (2021). Elephantgrass, a tropical grass for cutting and grazing. Revista Brasileira de Ciências Agrárias - Brazilian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 16(3), Article 9317. https://doi.org/10.5039/agraria.v16i3a9317
Rodríguez, J. S. G., Soto, I. B. R., León, N. S. S., & Muñoz, C. F. M. (2023). Comercio internacional, economía agrícola y tratados de libre comercio en el rubro de maíz en Colombia. Aglala, 14(2), 52–60. https://revistas.uninunez.edu.co/index.php/aglala/article/view/2310
Rosas-García, N. M., Mireles-Martínez, M., & Villegas-Mendoza, J. M. (2020). Detección de bassianolida y beauvericina en cepas de Beauveria bassiana y su participación en la actividad patogénica hacia Spodoptera sp. Biotecnia, 22(3), 93–99. https://doi.org/10.18633/biotecnia.v22i3.1060
Ruiz-Sanchez, E., Caro-Heredia, J. A., Latournerie-Moreno, L., Ballina-Gomez, H. S., & Ruiz-Santiago, R. R. (2023). Evaluación de daño por Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) y caracterización de los rasgos morfológicos foliares en poblaciones criollas de maíz (Zea mays L.). Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 26(2), Article 038. https://doi.org/10.56369/tsaes.4550
Toepfer, S., Fallet, P., Kajuga, J., Bazagwira, D., Mukundwa, I. P., Szalai, M., & Turlings, T. C. (2021). Streamlining leaf damage rating scales for the fall armyworm on maize. Journal of Pest Science, 94(4), 1075–1089. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-021-01359-2
Tolon-Becerra, A., Tourn, M., Botta, G. F., & Lastra-Bravo, X. (2011). Effects of different tillage regimes on soil compaction, maize (Zea mays L.) seedling emergence and yields in the eastern Argentinean Pampas region. Soil and Tillage Research, 117, 184–190. https://doi:10.1016/j.still.2011.10.003
Torres Navarrete, E. D., Palacios Peña, G., Moreira Menéndez, M., Sánchez Laíño, A. R., Muñoz Rodríguez, G., Manosalvas Vaca, C., & Vargas Burgos, J. C. (2015). Financiamiento del cultivo de maíz en el cantón Mocache-Ecuador. Revista Amazónica. Ciencia y Tecnología, 4(3), 270–300. https://doi.org/10.59410/RACYT-v04n03ep04-0056
Van den Berg, J., & Du Plessis, H. (2022). Chemical control and insecticide resistance in spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 115(6), 1761–1771. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toac108
Vélez, M., Betancourt, C., & Mendoza, J. (2021). Evaluación de diferentes momentos de aplicación de insecticida Metomil 90% para el control del gusano cogollero (Spodoptera frugiperda) en el cultivo de maíz. Ciencia y Tecnología, 14(2), 33–40. https://doi.org/10.18779/cyt.v14i2.500
Zhang, X., Zhu, X., Zhang, Y., Wu, Z., Fan, S., & Zhang, L. (2022). Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Identifies Key Defense Genes and Mechanisms in Mulberry (Morus alba) Leaves against Silkworms (Bombyx mori). International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(21), Article 13519. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232113519
Downloads
Published
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Ramiro Remigio Gaibor-Fernández, Sergio Florentino Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Paula Marisol Plaza-Zambrano, Lázara Meilín Infante-Diéguez, Ramon Jaime Holguín-Peña, Wilson Geobel Ceiro Catasú (Autor/a)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
