Resistance in Common Centipedegrass to the Fall Armyworm12

Abstract

Plant resistance was demonstrated in common centipedegrass, Eremochola ophiuroides (Munro) Hack., to Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith). Both antibiosis and nonpreference mechanisms of resistance were found when compared with bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., and carpetgrass, Axonopus affinis Chase. Larval mortality at 9 days was as high as 50% on centipedegrass in the forced-feeding tests. Fall armyworm larvae preferred carpetgrass or bermudagrass by as much as 6 to 1 over centipedegrass. Results also indicated that, if larvae were produced on a susceptible host in a mixed stand of centipedegrass, some of the larger fall armyworms could possibly survive, but a strong antiobiotic response would remain and thus affect larval growth.