Evaluation for soybean resistance to armyworm Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The army worm, Spodoptera litura, is one of the important soybean leaf-feeding pests in Indonesia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the resistance of several soybean genotypes to the army worm. Thirteen soybean genotypes were evaluated for their resistance against army worm. The experiment was conducted in Malang (East Java, Indonesia) from March to June 2018, using a randomized block design with three replicates. The evaluations for resistance were based on the choice and no-choice tests, and the preference index (C) using the resistant check (G100H). The intensity of leaf damage on the no-choice test (49.07%) was higher than the choice test (28.94%). The range of damage intensity caused by S. litura on the choice test and no-choice tests were 19.61 - 57.04% and 34.64 - 64.21%, respectively. On the choice test, it was obtained a resistant genotype, 11 moderately resistant genotypes, and one moderately susceptible genotype. On the no-choice test, two genotypes were categorized as moderately resistant, ten moderately susceptible genotypes, and one susceptible genotype. Based on the both of choice and no-choice tests, two genotypes (19 BE and G100H) were categorized as moderately resistant against S. litura. Based on the preference index, 14 DD has a similar degree of resistant with G100H. The number of filled pods was higher in the choice-test than those of in the no-choice test.