Abstract
The development of hosts that are resistant and evaluation of botanical extracts to H. armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is crucial for sustainable management, yet very limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was done to identify alternative methods to insecticide control through host consumption study and botanical extracts. The performance of third-fifth larval stages of H. armigera on three host plant varieties including chickpea, tomato and faba bean and botanical extracts against the third larval instars and oviposition deterrence was studied under laboratory condition (22°C ± 2°C, 55% ± 5% RH, 12:12 L: D photoperiod). Significant differences were found in the efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI%) (F = 80.06; df = 6, 2; p < 0.05) and efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD%) (F = 175.91; df = 6, 2; p < 0.05) values of H. armigera reared on the three host plant varieties of the whole larval instars. The minimum relative consumption rate (RCR) (11.271 ± 0.328) and maximum approximate digestibility (AD) (177.9 ± 1.928) values of the whole larval instars were on Dagaga and Koshari, respectively. The values of relative growth rate (RGR), ECI% and ECD% of the whole larval instars were highest on chickpea varieties and lowest on tomato Koshari. Among chickpea varieties, Habru was relatively resistant to larval instars of H. armigera. Botanical extracts at 50% neem oil (NO), 5% birbira seed extract (BSE) and 5% neem seed extract (NSE) (18.4%) resulted superior in larval mortality however, statistically not different. At both 5% and 2.5% concentration level of botanical extracts the minimum larval mortality was recorded from neem leaf extract (NLE). Maximum numbers of eggs were laid on control treatments and the minimum eggs were on 5% BSE. The deterrent effect of 50% neem oil was stronger (ODI = 17.66%) than that of 5% BSE (ODI = 14%) which is statistically similar value with 5% NSE (ODI = 13%). In conclusion, the result indicated that use of Habru chickpea variety with 50% NO was very effective in controlling both the larvae and deterring the adults of H. armigera from egg lying. These measures could be important in the wider managements of H. armigera by integrating host resistance and botanical extracts.
Highlights
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L. (Family: Fabaceae) is one of the most important pulse crop grown in many parts of African and Asia
Maximum (5.600% ± 0.264%) relative consumption rate (RCR)% of the third larval instar was recorded from larvae fed on Dagaga which is on par with Wolki (5.133% ± 0.185%) and minimum was obtained from chickpea varieties (Ararti, Natoli, Habru) and Koshari varieties
The larvae fed on the tomato Koshari variety had the lowest value of ECI and ECD, which suggests that these larvae were apparently not as efficient in turning digested food into biomass
Summary
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L. (Family: Fabaceae) is one of the most important pulse crop grown in many parts of African and Asia. In Ethiopia it’s considered as one among the major highland food crops grown. The insect is highly polyphagous pest; attacking wide ranges of agricultural crops including beans, chickpea, peas, sorghum, cotton, tomato, Okra, Sesame, Corn, tobacco, pepper, sunflower, safflower and Niger seed [15] [16] [17] [18], high reproductive rate and dispersal ability [19] [20]. In Ethiopia, it’s considered as the most prevalent insect pests on chickpea [22] [23]. Substantial proportions of chickpea in Ethiopia are lost to chickpea pod borer which causes up to 33% pod damage to chickpea [15] and 21% to faba bean [24]. Several researchers have used nutritional indices to study intake, digestibility and efficiency of food conversion to body matter by Lepidoptera larvae [27]
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