INTRODUCTION Zea mays L., a cereal crop of graminae family, is referred to as the “Queen of Cereal” due to its inherent high genetic yield potential. It can be converted through grinding, alkali processing, boiling, cooking and fermenting, into a variety of products such as corn starch, corn flakes and cereals, bioethanol, etc. (Kumar et al., 2013; Malo and Hore 2020). Maize crop is subjected to attack by over 141 insect pests during different crop growth stages. A host of pests, viz. stem borer, pink stem borer, aphids, cob borer etc. are found to be causing considerable loss in maize production both qualitatively and quantitatively (Siddiqui and Marwaha 1994). Fall army worm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a polyphagous pest native to the America, recently it has been identified causing damage in India (Kalleshwaraswamy et al., 2018; Chaithra et al., 2020; Rajisha et al., 2021; Russianzi et al., 2021). This pest seemingly prefers a very wide host range, with over 80 plants recorded, but highly prefers the grasses viz. field corn, sweet corn, sorghum, bermuda grass and grass weeds such as crabgrass (Jamjanya, 1987; Santos et al. (2004); Barcelos et al. (2019). Fall armyworm (FAW) larvae feed on young whorls, ears and tassels causing substantial damage to maize crops (Prasanna et al., 2018). Infestations during the mid- to late-whorl stage of maize development caused yield losses of 15-73% (Hruska and Gould 1997). Studies on the reproductive parameters of insect pests are important as they provide insights for understanding aspects such as damage potential and population dynamics, as well as growth rate, fluctuation and spatial distribution, thus allowing the establishment of methods for control (Santos et al., 2004). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of different maize genotypes on the reproductive parameters of adult S. frugiperda. MATERIAL AND METHODS Seeds of eight maize genotypes were obtained from All India Coordinated Research Project on Maize, Zonal Agriculture Research Station, Chhindwara, M.P. The crop was raised as per the recommended package of practices of the university, except the plant protection measures. The initial culture of Spodoptera frugiperda was made by collecting large number of larvae from the farmers maize fields of Chhindwara. The larvae were reared individually in plastic boxes (3×7 cm) and the maize leaves of each genotypes were provided as food. The boxes were cleaned and fresh food was provided to larvae daily in the morning until pupation. The pupation took place among the leaves provided as food. After pupation, sexing of pupae was done as per Butt and Cantu (1962). The newly emerged, seven pair of male and female moths were released in plastic containers (15×16 cm) covered with muslin cloth held in position by rubber band. Cotton swabs dipped in 5 per cent honey solution were provided as food for adults. The blotting paper strips were hung from the muslin cloth covering at the top with the help of pins to provide a site for oviposition for the female moths. The F2 generation was used for experimental studies on the respective genotypes (Farahani et al., 2011). The ovipositional sites were observed daily. Observations on pre-oviposition, oviposition and incubation periods, egg cluster/female, fecundity, hatching and longevity were recorded. The design of the experiment was completely randomized with eight treatments and replicated thrice. The significance of the treatments were computed by applying DMRT test. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Perusal of the data in Table 1 revealed that the difference in the pre-oviposition period and oviposition periods among different tested genotypes were non-significant and they varied from 3.39 (PHM-1) to 3.57 days (JM-218) and 2.66 (JM-218) to 2.76 days (CHH- 213), respectively. The present findings are in conformity with those by Murua and Virla (2004); Santos et al. (2004); Montezano et al. (2019); Russianzi et al. (2021). It was interesting to note that the genotypes where pre-oviposition period was high, there the ovipositional periods were low. The reduction in the oviposition period may be attributed to the interaction between egg production and metabolism (Montezano et al., 2019). Significant differences were observed in mean number of egg masses per female among the genotypes. It was highest on CHH-202 and CHH-213 (both registered 6.67 egg masses/female) followed by PHM-1, CHH-214 and JM-216 (6.17, 6.00 and 5.33 egg masses/female, respectively), but they did not differ significantly from each other. These were followed by HMM-1018, JM-12 and lowest on JM-218 (4.50, 4.17 and 3.83 egg masses/female), but statistically all were at par with each other. Similar findings have been reported by Santos et al. (2004) as they also reported that S. frugiperda larvae, when reared on maize cultivar ELISA, recorded 6.33 egg masses/female. The data presented in Table 1 showed that difference in the mean number of eggs/egg mass among different genotypes were significant. It was highest on CHH-213 (369.20 eggs/female/cluster), but was statistically at par with CHH-202 and CHH-214 (325.57 and 305.38 eggs/female/cluster, respectively). These were followed by PHM-1 and JM- 216 (278.43 and 254.16 eggs/female/cluster, respectively), but they did not differ significantly from each other. The next genotype was HMM-1018 (215.33 eggs/female/cluster) and was significantly higher than JM-12 (188.64 eggs/female/cluster). However, lowest was recorded on JM-218 (162.16 eggs/female/cluster). The total number of eggs laid per female significantly ranged from 713.50 (JM-218) to 1043.78 (CHH-213). Genotype CHH-213 was followed by CHH-202, CHH-214 and PHM-1(1002.86, 946.88 and 906.85 eggs/female, respectively), but they did not differ significantly from each other. These were followed by JM-216, HMM-1018, JM-12 and JM-218 (853.93, 807.12, 760.31 and 713.50 eggs/female, respectively), but non-significant differences were observed among them. The present findings corroborates the findings of Santos et al. (2004) , as they also recorded an average of 1141 and 1106 eggs per female on maize cultivars BR-400 and BR PAMPA, respectively. The variability in the number of eggs laid per female may be due to the quantity and quality of food ingested and also the inherent natural fecundity of each individual female moth (Luginbill, 1928). Data on incubation period given in Table 1 revealed that it differed significantly among the genotypes. Longest incubation period was observed on JM-218 (2.97 days), followed by JM-12, HMM-1018, JM-216 and PHM-1(2.86, 2.84, 2.76 and 2.69 days, respectively), but there was no significant difference among them. While, it was shortest on CHH-213 (2.43 days), but was at par with CHH-202 (2.56 days) and CHH-214 (2.61 days). The present findings are in conformity with those of Motezano et al. (2019); Rajisha et al. (2021) as they also recorded an average incubation period ranged from 2-3 days, similar to the values found in the present study as observed on the genotypes PHM-1 and CHH-214. Data depicted in Table 2 exhibited that the mean egg hatching differed significantly among the genotypes. It was maximum on CHH-202 and CHH-213 (both recorded 97.23 %), followed by PHM-1 and CHH-214 (both registered 93.89%), but all were at par with each other. While, it was lowest on JM-218 (86.67%) but did not differ significantly with JM-12, JM-216 and HMM-1018 (89.45, 91.50 and 91.67%, respectively). In the present studies the mean egg hatching was slightly higher than the findings of Melo and Silva (1987) as they reported 94.7, 87.66 and 77.37 % on maize genotypes AG-28, P- 6872 and AG-64, respectively. The results of the present study indicates negative influence of the test genotype JM-218 on the egg hatching percentage, which may indicate slower. It is evident from Table 2 that there was a significant difference in the longevity of the male moths among the genotypes. It was maximum on CHH-202 (10.43 days) followed by CHH-213 (10.40 days), but were at par with each other. These were followed by CHH-214 (9.90 days), but they did not differ significantly from PHM-1 (9.64 days). The next two genotypes, JM-216 and HMM-1018 were at par with each other and longevity observed were 9.46 and 9.20 days, respectively. While, it was minimum on JM-218 (8.64 days) but did not differ significantly with JM-12 (8.67 days). Female longevity was significantly maximum on HMM-1018 (10.55 days), followed by CHH-213, JM-216, JM-218 and CHH-202 (10.48, 10.47, 10.45 and 10.44 days, respectively), but non- significant differences were observed among them. While it was minimum on JM-12 (10.20 days) and was stastically at par with CHH-214 (10.30 days) and PHM-1 (10.39 days). The studies indicate that the longevity of the female moths were more than the males in each of the tested genotypes.