Studies on Host Plant Kairomones for Trapping Helicoverpa armigera in Cotton Ecosystem
2011
Anitha, G. | Peter, A J
Advances in the management of cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) focus on the use of plant kairomones to lure, trap and kill the gravid female moths. The present investigation was carried out to understand the oviposition preferences of the gravid female moths of H.armigera and to identify the strong kairomone source(s) from its select hosts viz., marigold, maize, sunflower and pigeonpea in a cotton (non-Bt) ecosystem. Pigeonpea received significantly higher number of eggs than cotton, maize, marigold and sunflower when their flowering time was synchronized. Oviposition was consistent and significantly higher on pigeonpea when cotton was intercepted with marigold, maize, sunflower and pigeonpea. Pigeonpea also significantly reduced the egg load on the surrounding cotton. Laboratory studies were carried out to identify the plant part(s) that could be good kairomone sources for luring and trapping the moth. In a wind tunnel, gravid female moths exhibited better response and preferred to lay eggs on young pods of pigeonpea (35–40 days after flowering) than on other tested reproductive plant parts. The four best plant parts that exhibited significant attraction for the gravid females were young pods of pigeonpea>flowers of pigeonpea>silk of maize>buds of marigold. The above study confirmed that young pods of pigeonpea are the best kairomone source that could be used for the management of H.armigera in a cotton ecosystem.
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