Comparative Reproductive Performance and Digestive Enzymatic Activity ofHelicoverpa armigera(Noctuidae) on Seven Bean Cultivars

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner), is one of the most important pests of many host crops in Iran and worldwide. The effect of different cultivars of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) including white kidney bean (cultivars Pak, Daneshkadeh and Shokufa), common bean (cultivar Talash) and red kidney bean (cultivars Akhtar, Sayyad and Naz) was studied on the reproductive parameters of H. armigera under laboratory conditions (25±1 °C, 65 ± 5% RH, and photoperiod of 16: 8 (L: D) h) and on the activity of some digestive enzymes of the larvae under field conditions. The highest rates of gross fecundity and gross fertility were on red kidney bean Naz, and the lowest values of these parameters were on white kidney bean Pak and red kidney bean Akhtar, respectively. The highest rates of net fecundity and net fertility were observed on common bean Talash, whereas the lowest values of these parameters were seen on red kidney bean Akhtar. The lowest proteolytic activity of fourth and fifth instar l...