DefinePK

Abstract

Côte d’Ivoire is one of the main African countries producing corn, which is used to feed both human and animal populations. However, corn cultivation is confronted with pest problems, caused in particular by fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) which can decrease yield to 70%. This work, was carried out in 2021-2022, to determine S. frugiperda geographical distribution and its damage potential in cornfields in Côte d’Ivoire. A diagnosis based on the counting of corn plants and S. frugiperda larvae made it possible to establish the geographical distribution and assess the infestation rate of the fields at each zone and locality in the country. The results revealed that S. frugiperda was present in all corn producing areas of Côte d’Ivoire. Higher population was observed in north and center of the country (57.39 ± 3.66%; 46.68 ± 4.33% infested plants respectively) while the infestation rates was low (20.07 ± 3.20% to 30.05 ± 4.01% and) in other areas. The number of larvae were identical and distribution was almost similar in all geographical areas from 12.73 ± 3.37 to 22.45 ± 3.05 %. Degree of severity was higher in the center and north than in the other zones. The Southern zone was less affected, probably due to some abiotic factors such as high rainfall, as well as some agricultural systems and practices. However, additional work is needed to propose an effective integrated management for reducing S. frugiperda population to a tolerable threshold in Côte d’Ivoire in order to ensure sustainable food security.