Enhancement of Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Resistance in Bermudagrass Through Cell Culture

Tissue culture methods were used to develop regenerated plants from three bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., genotypes: ‘Brazos,’ ‘Grazer,’ and OSU LCB W26. The regenerated plants were compared with the original genotypes for resistance to the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith). Of the seven regenerated plants tested, two lines (Brazos-R3 and OSU LCB W26-R2) appeared to have increased resistance to fall armyworm. The other five lines were slightly more resistant or exhibited no increased resistance to the fall armyworm than the parent from which they were developed.