Screening moringa accessions for resistance to moringa moth, Noorda blitealis Walker (Crambidae: Noordinae)

Abstract

Moringa moth (Noorda blitealis Walker) has become an important pest on Moringa tree in the Southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia. The insect is indigenous to this region where it feeds on Moringa leaves and causes damage for decades. During severe damage periods the whole branches of Moringa stenopetala becomes defoliated and causes vegetable shortage to the rural and urban communities in the semi-arid low land areas. This paper deals with screening of Moringa accessions from different localities for resistance to the defoliator insect. Forty-six Moringa accessions planted at Arbaminch Chanomille research and fruit nursery site were assessed for resistance to N. blitealis in the field by visual damage rating and in the laboratory by choice and no-choice feeding assay. 0 to 4 insect damage-rating scales with separate descriptions were used to evaluate the accessions. In the overall evaluation the field results are reliable because they were supported and complemented by the no-choice test.