MANAGEMENT OF ARMYWORM (SPODOPTERA FRUGIPERDA) INFESTATION ON MAIZE PLANT UNDER DIFFERENT PLANTS IN OWERRI, IMO STATE

Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) infestation on maize is a widespread and persistent problem which can be effectively controlled through natural or organic approaches. This study investigated Azadirachta indica and Cymbopogon citratus leaf aqueous extracts to control Spodoptera frugiperdainfestation on maize through laboratory and screen house experiments. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was used to determine A. indica's compounds and abundance. In both contact and feeding bioassays, increasing doses of A. indica and C. citratus extracts resulted in a linear increase in S. frugiperda mortality and antifeedant effects. A. indica and C. citratus extracts at 10% w/v increased S. frugiperda mortality best. Chlorifylos had the greatest mortality rate (98.70%), followed by Azadrachtha indica (70.56%) and Cymbopogon citratus (65.60%), while acetone extract had the lowest mortality rate (2.21%). The highest antifeedant activity was observed in A. indica (76.10%), followed by Cymbopogon citratus (55.63), acetone (7.25%), and water (5.73%). A linear increase in the antifeedant activity was observed as the concentration of the extracts increased. High foliar damage was observed in (untreated, water and water plus 0.1% soap with mean leaf damage scores of 5.48, 5.37, and 4.17, respectively. Chlorpyrifos (1.24%) was the most effective in reducing foliar damage. There was no significant difference in the severity of foliar damage on maize plants that received A. indica (3.40) and C. citratus (3.23) A total of 43 compounds were identified in the A. indica extract. These results show the pesticidal activities of A. indica and C. citratus for the sustainable management of S. frugiperda infestations.