The First Survey of Spodoptera frugiperda on Maize in the Farms and in the Traditional Post-harvest Conservation in Central African Republic
L. Aba Toumnou *
Laboratory of Biological and Agronomical Sciences for Development, Bangui, Central African Republic and Laboratory of Applied Animal Biology and Biodiversity, University of Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic
R. Reo-Ndouba
Laboratory of Biological and Agronomical Sciences for Development, Bangui, Central African Republic
S. P. Wango
Laboratory of Applied Animal Biology and Biodiversity, University of Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic
E. Kamba-Mebourou
Laboratory of Biological and Agronomical Sciences for Development, Bangui, Central African Republic
J. Mbiko-Tanza
Laboratory of Applied Animal Biology and Biodiversity, University of Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic
S. Ngarassem
Central African Republic Institute of Agronomical Researches (ICRA), Bangui, Central African Republic
P. Koingué
Ministry of Rural Development, Bangui, Central African Republic
J. B. Mborohoul
Ministry of Rural Development, Bangui, Central African Republic
S. F. Bolevane-Ouatinam
Laboratory of Applied Animal Biology and Biodiversity, University of Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic
E. Ngounio-Gabia
Food and Alimentation Organization, Bangui, Central African Republic
I. Zinga
Laboratory of Biological and Agronomical Sciences for Development, Bangui, Central African Republic
S. Semballa
Laboratory of Biological and Agronomical Sciences for Development, Bangui, Central African Republic
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) belongs to the family poaceae; it is one of the major important staple food crops for most sub-Saharan Africans of which Central Africa Republic is inclusive. One of the insects causing damage in Maize is the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The aim of this study is to investigate in the farms and post-harvest the presence of S. frugiperda. Plant infestation rates between areas were analysed using a Generalized Linear Model with Poisson error distribution and the uniformity of the infestation in each area was assessed using the Chi square fit test. Infestation rate is not uniform in each area (20 to 80% according the area).
Keywords: Spodoptera frugiperda, infestation, maize, Central Africa Republic