Effects of cabbage cultivars on the food consumption and utilization parameters of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.)

Abstract

Food consumption and utilization parameters of Plutella xylostella (L.) were studied on the leaves of eight cabbage cultivars under laboratory conditions (27 ± 2 °C, 70 ± 5 % RH, 16 L: 8D photoperiod). The present study evaluated the effect of different biochemical factors of cabbage cultivars on the food consumption and utilization parameters of P. xylostella. All the food consumption and utilization parameters differed significantly among the cabbage cultivars. The highest values of relative consumption rate (RCR) and relative growth rate (RGR) were observed on the cabbage cultivars ‘NS 183’, ‘DEB 806’, ‘Green Express’ and ‘Mohor’. The highest values of the efficiency of conversion of ingested (3.94 %) and digested (4.95 %) food was observed on the cabbage cultivar ‘DEB 806’. In contrast, the 4th instar P. xylostella larvae fed on the cabbage cultivar ‘Lucky Ball’ exhibited the lowest values of RCR (1.31 mg food consumed/mg body weight/ day), RGR (0.33 mg weight gain/mg body weight/ day), ECI (2.47 %) and ECD (2.95 %). The food consumption and utilization parameters of P. xylostella were positively correlated with the protein: carbohydrate (P:C) ratio of cabbage cultivars. The food consumption and utilization parameters of P. xylostella showed a non-significant correlation with the total glucosinolate content and total phenolic content of cabbage cultivars. The present study will help to identify effective resistant or tolerant cabbage cultivars for the development of Integrated Pest Management strategies against P. xylostella.