Natural fungi to combat fall armyworms discovered

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has identified strains of a naturally occurring fungi that can help farmers fight against fall armyworms (FAW) that is posing a threat to the rice farms in Luzon.

PhilRice said its researchers led by Evelyn Valdez, the agency’s crop protection expert, found that nine strains of fungal organisms known as entomopathogens were infecting FAW larvae in the wild.

Early tests conducted by the researchers indicated that the fungi can serve as a biological control agent or a living organism that suppresses pests.

The agency noted that FAW larvae feed on the leaves of young rice plants, resulting in significant tissue loss which would lead to total destruction of the seedlings, severely reducing the number of surviving plants.

“These fungi are a game-changer for FAW. They’re natural, support good farming, reduce chemicals and give farmers a solution,” Valdez said.

The findings were part of the second phase of PhilRice’s FAW research project that began in April 2023. PhilRice scientists have been monitoring FAW-infested areas in Cagayan, Nueva Ecija and Mountain Province to collect larvae infected with fungi from the field.

The collected larvae were tested through bioassays to determine which strains are most effective in suppressing the pest, according to PhilRice.

After identification, the most promising strains were sent for molecular analysis collaboration with the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) to confirm their identities and understand their full potential as biocontrol agents.

The FAW, which was first detected in the country in 2019, has been one of the challenges faced by corn farms but is now threatening rice fields too. The first rice-related damage was recorded in 2021 in Gonzaga, Cagayan.

PhilRice said there has been recorded FAW infestations in rice farms in Santa Ana and Gonzaga in Cagayan, San Jose City and Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija, prompting the government to immediately look for effective and farmer-friendly pest management strategies.

“The seedling stage is when FAW infestations are most likely to occur. Farmers should regularly check their fields and immediately report any signs of infestation to their local agricultural office, Regional Crop Protection Center or PhilRice. Acting early can make all the difference,” Valdez said.

PhilRice said its researchers are also studying the ecology and movement of FAW to design location-specific pest management strategies that farmers can easily adopt.

Last year, the Department of Agriculture recorded at least P57 million in production losses in the corn sector because of FAW. The pest affected 3,237 hectares with an estimated volume loss of 734 metric tons.