Effects of Feeding on Different Host Plants and Diets on Bradysia odoriphaga Population Parameters and Tolerance to Heat and Insecticides

Abstract

Bradysia odoriphaga Yang et Zhang, the Chinese chive root maggot, is a devastating pest of agricultural plants causing significant losses in vegetable crops, edible mushrooms, and humus. To determine the effects of feeding on different host plants and diets on the life parameters of B. odoriphaga and its tolerance to stressful conditions, we analyzed the life-table data of B. odoriphaga reared on Chinese chive (Allium hookeri), Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum), garlic (Allium sativum), oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), and humus and assayed its tolerance to heat and insecticides. Furthermore, we assayed the physiological responses of B. odoriphaga reared on different hosts. Development from egg to adult was successfully completed on five hosts. Life table indicated that when reared on Chinese chive and oyster mushroom, B. odoriphaga showed better life parameters (shorter development time, higher survival rate, and fecundity) than on humus and garlic. However, B. odoriphaga larvae fed on humus and garlic better tolerated heat and insecticides than those that were fed Chinese chive and oyster mushroom; larvae survived longer at 38 and 40°C heat shock and at higher insecticide doses. Activities of antioxidant and detoxification enzymes varied significantly in larvae fed on different hosts. Catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, and carboxylesterase activities were higher in larva reared on garlic and humus than on Chinese chive and oyster mushroom. These findings indicated that B. odoriphaga preferred liliaceous vegetables and mushroom, and their tolerance against stress increased when reared on humus and garlic. Such basic information can promote targeted pest management in different agricultural fields and allow better understanding of the acclimatization strategy of B. odoriphaga.