Studies of the response of the spiny bollworm,earias insulana, to rearing on leaves, flower buds and bolls of high-terpenoid-aldehyde cotton genotypes in the laboratory

Abstract

Survival rates of neonate larvae of the spiny bollworm,Earias insulana Boisd., on leaves, flower buds and bolls of ten high-gossypol (HG) [terpenoid-aldehyde] and Acala SJb2 cotton lines were 40-74%, 66-92% and 54-76%, respectively. Partial resistance of leaves of three cotton lines, no resistance of flower buds, and resistance of bolls of one line (HG-BR-8) to larval infestation were observed. Bolls which had their bases and bracts removed were heavily penetrated by larvae and more adults were obtained on them, as compared with intact ones. Complete development on cotton bolls, from hatching to the adult, took 25.6-32.6 days, with significant differences among some of the cotton lines. Growth on bolls of HG lines in the larval stage had no effect on oviposition by the corresponding adults. Fertility of these eggs was not affected.