HARNESSING SORGHUM AND MAIZE-DERIVED NATURAL COMPOUNDS FOR EFFECTIVE DIRECT AND INDIRECT DEFENSE STRATEGIES AGAINST FALL ARMYWORM

This is a CPPM ARDP Applied Research-led single-function project addressing program area priorities of Plant Protection Tools and Tactics and b. Diversified IPM Systems. The Project will allow development of individual tools and tactics needed for pest management systems using maize and sorghum phytochemicals. Extension activities will include pilot field-scale demonstrations.This project will focus on agriculturally important maize crop which is highly vulnerable to insect damages especially fall armyworm (FAW) damage. In line with the CPPM program, the project will develop and implement sustainable IPM strategies of crop protection. To disseminate information of new tools and tactics, we have partnered with corn seed industry and extension specialists to interact with growers and stakeholders. Results will allow the development new host plant defense strategies with the use of plant bioactives and volatile organic compounds (VOC) for sustainable plant health. This project objectives are:1. Develop a novel targeted delivery of bioactives at the insect feeding sites of the plant.2. Identify VOC-mediated FAW behavioral changes to design crop defense strategies.3. Field screening to deploy direct and indirect defense strategies against fall armyworm.