Abstract
The effects of a plant growth regulator, mepiquat chloride (PIX), on bollworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie) growth, survival, and damage to cotton fruit, Gossypium hirsutum L., were studied at Corpus Christi, Tex., in whole-plant field cages in 1982 and 1983. At 48 h after PIX relative condensed tannin concentration and astringency increased significantly in the treated plants, but terpenoid concentration remained unchanged. Neonate larvae placed on treated and untreated plants at this time and allowed to feed for 7 days did not differ significantly in the resistance parameters measured, except for higher larval mortality on treated plants in 1982. At 14 days after PIX application, tannin concentration had increased further and terpenoid concentration increased significantly in the treated plants. H. zea larvae developing on these plants weighed less, had lower survival rates, and damaged less fruit than larvae on untreated plants. Application of PIX to cotton induced plant resistance to H. zea.
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