Differential suitability of sugar beet cultivars for the beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua): Insights from life-table analysis

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mostafa Maroufpoor 1
Amin Sadeghi 2
Raul Narciso C Guedes 3
Kovsar Janeh 4
Heydar Azizi 5
1 Department of Plant Protection, Agriculture Faculty, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
2 Differential suitability of sugar beet cultivars for the beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua): insights from life-table analysis
3 Departamento de Entomologia Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG 36570-000 Brazil.
4 1. Department of Plant Protection, Agriculture Faculty, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran.
5 2. Agriculture and Natural Resources Research Center of West Azerbaijan, Urmia, Iran
Abstract
The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a major pest of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) worldwide, causing substantial quantitative and qualitative yield losses. In this study, we examined the life history and demographic parameters of S. exigua on four commercial sugar beet cultivars ('Arta', 'Karta', 'Nika', and 'Rubina') under controlled laboratory conditions. Population parameters were estimated using the age-stage, two-sex life table approach. The egg incubation period did not differ significantly among cultivars (approximately 2.00 days; P > 0.05). However, the total preadult developmental time (egg to adult emergence) differed significantly among cultivars and was shortest on 'Karta' and longest on 'Arta'. Fecundity varied markedly among cultivars, reaching its highest value on 'Arta' (382.97 eggs/female) and lowest on 'Nika' (132.37 eggs/female). A similar pattern was observed for key demographic parameters: the net reproductive rate (R0) ranges from 56.72 offspring/individual on 'Nika' to 169.67 offspring/individual on 'Arta'. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) varied significantly among cultivars, ranging from 0.152 day⁻¹ on 'Nika' to 0.209 day⁻¹ on 'Arta'. Taken together, these results suggest that cultivar 'Nika' is less suitable for population growth of S. exigua under laboratory conditions, whereas 'Arta' appears more favorable. Slower population growth on cultivars such as 'Nika' may contribute to reduced pest pressure, although this would need to be confirmed under field conditions. Accordingly, 'Nika' could be considered a potentially useful component within IPM programs, rather than a fully resistant cultivar per se.
Keywords
Beta vulgaris
Demographic parameters
Host plant resistance
Pest management
Population growth
Spodoptera exigua
Subjects
1.Bayu M.S.Y.I., Ullah M.S., Takano Y. and Gotoh T., 2017. Impact of constant versus fluctuating temperatures on the development and life history parameters of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae). Experimental and Applied Acarology, 72: 205-227.
2.Birch L.C., 1948. The intrinsic rate of natural increase of an insect population. Journal of Animal Ecology, 1: 15-26.
3.CABI, 2021. Spodoptera exigua (beet armyworm). In: Invasive Species Compendium. CAB International, Wallingford, UK. Available at: https://www.cabi.org/isc/ (Accessed: March 2026).
4.Capinera J.L., 2001. Handbook of Vegetable Pests. Academic Press, San Diego, 729 pp.
5.Chi H. and Liu H., 1985. Two new methods for the study of insect population ecology. Bulletin of the Institute of Zoology, Academia Sinica, 24: 225-240.
6.Chi H., 1988. Life table analysis incorporating both sexes and variable development rates among individuals. Environmental Entomology, 17: 26-34.
7.Chi H., You M.S., Atlıhan R., Smith C.L., Kavousi A., Özgökçe M.S. et al., 2020. Age-stage, two-sex life table: An introduction to theory, data analysis, and application. Entomologia Generalis, 40: 103-124.
8.Chi H., Kara H., Özgökçe M.S., Atlıhan R., Güncan A. and Rişvanlı M.R., 2022. Innovative application of set theory, Cartesian product, and multinomial theorem in demographic research. Entomologia Generalis, 42: 863-874. 
9.Chi H., Kavousi A., Gharekhani G., Atlıhan R., Özgökçe M.S., Güncan A. et al., 2023. Advances in theory, data analysis, and application of the age-stage, two-sex life table for demographic research, biological control, and pest management. Entomologia Generalis, 43: 705-732.
10.  Chi H., 2024. TWOSEX-MSChart: a computer program for the age-stage, two-sex life table analysis. Available from: http://140.120.197.173/Ecology/Download/TWOSEX-MSChart.rar (Accessed: March 2026).
11.  Efron B. and Tibshirani R.J., 1993. An introduction to the bootstrap. Chapman & Hall, New York.
12.  Eggleston G. and Grisham M.P., 2026. Sugarcane, sugar beet, and sweet sorghum processing: similarities and differences to underpin sustainable practices. Sugar Tech, 28: 22-33.
13.  Golizadeh A., Abedi Z. and Borzoui E., 2016. Effect of geographic population and host cultivar on demographic parameters of Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology, 19(4): 927-934.
14.  Goodman D., 1982. Optimal life histories, optimal notation, and the value of reproductive value. The American Naturalist, 119: 803-823.
15.  Haviland D.R. and Godfrey L.D., 2001. The role of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, tetranychid spider mites, and Empoasca leafhoppers as causal agents of late season defoliation of California sugarbeets with implications on management through refined IPM systems using reduced-risk insecticides. In: Proceedings of the ESA Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.
16.  Hoy M.A., 2011. Agricultural Acarology: Introduction to integrated mite management. CRC Press, New York, 410 pp.
17.  Huang Y.B. and Chi H., 2012. Age-stage, two-sex life tables of Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) with a discussion on the problem of applying female age-specific life tables to insect populations. Journal of Insect Science, 19: 263-273.
18.  Islam M.T., Jahan M., Gotoh T. and Ullah M.S., 2017a. Host-dependent life history and life table parameters of Tetranychus truncatus (Acari: Tetranychidae). Systematic and Applied Acarology, 22: 2068-2082.
19.  Islam T., Biswas M.J.H., Howlader M.T.H. and Ullah M.S., 2017b. Laboratory evaluation of Beauveria bassiana, some plant oils and insect growth regulators against two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae). Persian Journal of Acarology, 6: 203-211.
20.  Karimi S., Fathipour Y., Talebi A.A. and Naseri B., 2012. Evaluation of canola cultivars for resistance to Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) using demographic parameters. Journal of Economic Entomology, 105: 2172-2179.
21.  Karimi‑Malati A., Fathipour Y., Talebi A.A. and Bazoubandi M., 2012. Comparative life table parameters of beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), on four commercial sugar beet cultivars. Journal of Entomological Society of Iran, 32(1): 109-124.
22.  Kavousi A., Chi H., Talebi K., Bandani A., Ashouri A. and Naveh V.H., 2009. Demographic traits of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) on leaf discs and whole leaves. Journal of Economic Entomology, 102: 595-601.
23.  Khanamani M., Fathipour Y. and Hajiqanbar H., 2013. Population growth response of Tetranychus urticae to eggplant quality: Application of female age-specific and age-stage, two-sex life tables. International Journal of Acarology, 39: 638-648.
24.  Liu Z., Li D., Gong P. and Wu K., 2004. Life table studies of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), on different host plants. Environmental Entomology, 33: 1570-1576.
25.  Mehrkhou F., 2015. Comparative demographic parameters of beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), on four commercial sugar beet cultivars. Journal of Entomological Society of Iran, 35(1): 11-18.
26.  Nikooei M., Fathipour Y., Jalali Javaran M. and Soufbaf M., 2015. How different genetically manipulated brassica genotypes affect life table parameters of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 108: 515-524.
27.  Özgökçe M.S., Atlihan R. and Karaca I., 2006. The life table of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) after different storage periods. Journal of Food Agriculture and Environment, 4: 282-287.
28.  Qi A., 2022. Sugar beet production under changing climate: opportunities and challenges. In: Misra V., Srivastava S. and Mall A.K. (Eds.), Sugar Beet Cultivation, Management and Processing. Springer, Singapore, 1-18.
29.  Rastogi A. and Shukla S., 2022. Advancements and prospectives of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) biotechnology. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 106: 7417-7430.
30.  Rovenská G.Z., Zemek R., Schmidt J.E. and Hilbeck A., 2005. Altered host plant preference of Tetranychus urticae and prey preference of its predator Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Tetranychidae, Phytoseiidae) on transgenic cry3Bb-eggplants. Biological Control, 33: 293-300.
31.  Sedaratian A., Fathipour Y. and Moharramipour S., 2011. Comparative life table analysis of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) on 14 soybean genotypes. Insect Science, 18: 541-553.
32.  Sharma P. and Sharma A., 2023. Salt and drought stress-mitigating approaches in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) to improve its performance and yield. Planta, 258: 30.
33.  Sunulu S. et al., 2020. A seasonal threat for sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) production, beet armyworm [Spodoptera exigua (Hübner)]. Black Sea Journal of Agriculture, 3(4): 317-323.
34.  Talaee L., Fathipour Y., Talebi A.A. and Khajehali J., 2016. Screening of potential sources of resistance to Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in 24 sugar beet genotypes. Journal of Economic Entomology, 110(1): 250-258.
35.  Ullah M.S., Gotoh T. and Lim U.T., 2014. Life history parameters of three phytophagous spider mites, Tetranychus piercei, T. truncatus, and T. bambusae (Acari: Tetranychidae). Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology, 17: 767-773.
36.  Ullah M.S. and Lim U.T., 2015. Life history characteristics of Frankliniella occidentalis and Frankliniella intonsa (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in constant and fluctuating temperatures. Journal of Economic Entomology, 108: 1000-1009.
37.  Ullah M.S., Haque M.A., Nachman G. and Gotoh T., 2012. Temperature-dependent development and reproductive traits of Tetranychus macfarlanei (Acari: Tetranychidae). Experimental and Applied Acarology, 56: 327-344.
38.  Underwood N. and Rausher M.D., 2000. The effects of host‑plant genotype on herbivore population dynamics. Ecology, 81: 1565-1576.
39.  USDA Economic Research Service, 2024. Sugar and Sweeteners Yearbook Tables. United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. Available at: https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/sugar-and-sweeteners-yearbook-tables/ (Accessed: March 2026).
40.  van den Boom C.E.M., van Beek T.A. and Dicke M., 2003. Differences among plant species in acceptance by the spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch. Journal of Applied Entomology, 127: 177-183.
41.  Zehnder G., Gurr G.M., Kühne S., Wad M.R., Wratten S.D. and Wyss E., 2007. Arthropod pest management in organic crops. Annual Review of Entomology, 52: 57-80.
Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 19 July 2026