Jute Leaf Physicochemical cue-mediated Behavioral Responses of Diacrisia casignetum Kollar

Abstract

The role of jute, Chorchorus capsularis (cv. Sonali; JRC-321), leaf physicochemical cues in the form of cuticular surface ultrastructures and wax chemicals mainly n-alkanes and free fatty acids (FFAs) on attraction and oviposition preference of Diacrisia casignetum Kollar (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) was studied under laboratory conditions. The GC–MS and GC-FID analyses of mature jute leaf surface wax indicated the presence of 257.04 and 171.36 µg/leaf n-alkanes and FFAs, respectively. Eighteen n-alkanes from n-C16 to n-C36 and 13 FFAs from C12:0 to C20:0 were detected in the leaf surface wax. The cuticular surface ultrastructures and its chemicals have been demonstrated in this work to serve as cues for eliciting attraction and oviposition responses of the adults to mature jute leaves. The synthetic combination mixture mimicking the natural surface wax components of 4 n-alkanes (n-C17, n-C18, n-C27, n-C29) and 5 FFAs (C16:0, C16:1, C18:1, C18:2, C18:3) was most attractive to D. casignetum adults, whereas same mixtures excluding 2 n-alkanes (n-C27, n-C29) indicated significantly optimum oviposition preference at leaf equivalent (µg/leaf) concentrations that may be used for this pest management program as baited trap. The present study will also ensure sustainability of success in integrated pest management (IPM) in the form of green pest management (GPM) in the near future.