Effect of Two Biofertilisers Based on Endophytic Fungi on Fall Armyworm Infestations in Maize Production in the Kara Region of Togo, West Africa

Essossiname Kpanegue

Centre d'Excellence en Protection Durable des Cultures, Laboratoire des Sciences Agronomiques et Biologiques Appliquées, Institut Supérieur des Métiers de l'Agriculture, Université de Kara, BP. 404 Kara, Togo.

Atti Tchabi *

Centre d'Excellence en Protection Durable des Cultures, Laboratoire des Sciences Agronomiques et Biologiques Appliquées, Institut Supérieur des Métiers de l'Agriculture, Université de Kara, BP. 404 Kara, Togo.

Nazer Famah Sourassou

Centre d'Excellence en Protection Durable des Cultures, Laboratoire des Sciences Agronomiques et Biologiques Appliquées, Institut Supérieur des Métiers de l'Agriculture, Université de Kara, BP. 404 Kara, Togo.

Emmanuel Kombieni

Centre d'Excellence en Protection Durable des Cultures, Laboratoire des Sciences Agronomiques et Biologiques Appliquées, Institut Supérieur des Métiers de l'Agriculture, Université de Kara, BP. 404 Kara, Togo.

Latifou Tchassanti

Centre d'Excellence en Protection Durable des Cultures, Laboratoire des Sciences Agronomiques et Biologiques Appliquées, Institut Supérieur des Métiers de l'Agriculture, Université de Kara, BP. 404 Kara, Togo.

Tighankoumi Gmakouba

Centre d'Excellence en Protection Durable des Cultures, Laboratoire des Sciences Agronomiques et Biologiques Appliquées, Institut Supérieur des Métiers de l'Agriculture, Université de Kara, BP. 404 Kara, Togo.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of two biofertilisers based on endophytic fungi on infestation rates, foliar damage and maize yield losses caused by the armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, a worst maize pest.

Study Design: Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three types of treatments.

Place and Duration of Study: Agronomic Experimentation Station of Tchitchao, Kara (Togo), between October 2019 and March 2020.

Methodology: A complete randomized block design was used with three types of treatments: (i) maize seeds inoculated with Glomus sp. strain 142, (ii) maize seeds inoculated with Mycotri, (iii) maize seedlings fertilized with NPK and urea and finally (iv) a control consisting of seeds and/or seedlings of maize neither fertilized nor inoculated.             

Results: The results show that the plots treated with endophytic fungi recorded significantly lower infestation rates compared with the fertiliser treatments and the control. The highest infestation rates were 54% at 38 days after sowing (DAS) and 45% at 31 DAS for treatments with 5.35 x 105 spores/ha Glomus sp. and 0.38 kg/ha Mycotri, respectively, compared with 78% at 31 DAS and 62% at 38 DAS for fertiliser treatments and the control. The highest level of leaf damage, 2.92, was observed at 33 DAS on the plots fertilised with fertiliser, compared with scores of 2.53 and 2.38 for the plots mycorrhised with Glomus sp. and Mycotri, respectively. Yields were significantly higher in the fertilised plots (3.87 t/ha), followed by the mycorrhised plots (2.62-3.01 t/ha) and the control (1.73 t/ha).

Conclusion: The endophytic fungi enabled the plants to tolerate fall armyworms attacks better than the controls, offering an alternative to chemical fertilisers and an effective option for managing soil fertility and controlling Spodoptera frugiperda.

Keywords: Maize, Spodoptera frugiperda, mycorrhizae, Glomus sp, biological control


How to Cite

Kpanegue, Essossiname, Atti Tchabi, Nazer Famah Sourassou, Emmanuel Kombieni, Latifou Tchassanti, and Tighankoumi Gmakouba. 2024. “Effect of Two Biofertilisers Based on Endophytic Fungi on Fall Armyworm Infestations in Maize Production in the Kara Region of Togo, West Africa”. International Journal of Plant & Soil Science 36 (11):220-30. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2024/v36i115136.