Fruit Borer Helicoverpa Armigera Research Articles

Seasonal Incidence of Major Insect Pests of Chilli and Their Correlation with Weather Parameters

Study Design: Randomised Block Design (RBD) with three (3) replications. Place and Duration of Study: Biswanath College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Assam,India. The experiment was conducted during Rabi 2022-23. Methodology: Suryamukhi variety of chilli from packages of practices for Organic crops of Assam was used for this investigation. Three sucking pests viz, Aphis gossypii, Scirtothrips dorsalis, Amrasca biguttula biguttula and one fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera was found infesting the chilli plants. Weather parameters such as maximum temperature, minimum temperature, average relative humidity, rainfall and bright sunshine hours were correlated with the insect populations. Results: Aphids were positively correlated with sunshine hours (r=0.503*), thrips showed negative correlation with average relative humidity (r= -0.620*), jassids had a negative correlation with minimum temperature (r=-0.701*) and fruit borer showed negative correlation with sunshine hours (r= -0625**). Rainfall had no significant effect on incidence of pest population in chilli. Conclusion: Insect pest populations are highly influenced by weather parameters. Through this research we can develop new pest management strategies according to their appearance and peak activity period.

Efficacy of Some Insecticides Aganist Fruit Borer <i>Helicoverpa Armigera</i> (Hübner) and Two Spotted Spider Mite <i>Tetranychus Urticae</i> (Koch) in Tomato

Fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Koch) are destructive pests exerting a high crop loss in tomato. The field experiment was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of some insecticides and acaricides against H. armigera and T. urticae at College of Agriculture, Vijayapura. The results revealed that chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC @ 0.15 ml/ l followed by spiromesifen 22.9% SC @ 0.5 ml/ l was recorded lowest fruit borer larvae (1.25/ plant). The treatment chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC @ 0.15 ml/ l recorded lowest fruit damage (8.91/ plant) at 15 DAS. The treatment spiromesifen 22.9% SC @ 0.5 ml/ l recorded lowest number of two spotted spider mites (2.30/ square inch of leaf area) at 15 DAS. The combination treatment of chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC @ 0.15 ml/ l followed by spiromesifen 22.9% SC @ 0.5 ml/ l found most effective treatment to control both the above pests on tomato.

Biology of Fruit Borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) on Tomato under Laboratory Conditions

The experiment on biology of fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) was carried out in the Bio-control Laboratory, Department of Entomology, S.V.P.U.A.&T., Meerut. Results showed that the mean pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition period of fruit borer on tomato lasted for 2.46 ± 0.29, 6.33 ± 0.14 and 1.67 ± 0.14 days, respectively. A female laid on an average 329.40 ± 68.17 eggs. The incubation period was observed to be 3.08 ± 0.32 days on tomato. The first instar larva was very active with body length of 1.54 ± 0.81 mm and body breadth of 0.46 ± 0.05 mm. The larval development completed within 22.45 ± 0.44 days. The duration of each instar on tomato was found to be 2.58 ± 0.26, 3.50 ± 0.14, 3.42 ± 0.26, 3.71 ± 0.28, 4.38 ± 0.16 and 4.83 ± 0.14 days, respectively. The mean pre-pupal period lasted for 2.00 ± 0.24 days on tomato. The mean pupal period lasted for 12.33 ± 0.62 days. Longevity of adult ranged from 8 to 11 days with an average of 9.30 ± 1.25 days in males, while the longevity of female moths ranged from 10 to 14 days with an average of 11.30 ± 1.34 days. The male moth measured 17.79 ± 0.41 mm in length, 35.55 ± 0.92 mm in breadth and the female moth measured 19.76 ± 0.58 mm in length, 40.08 ± 0.99 mm in breadth on tomato. The sex ratio for male and female was 1: 0.76 on tomato. The generation from egg to death of male and female i.e., total life cycle was found to be completed within 39 to 60 days with an average of 50.3 ± 7.51 days and 41 to 63 days with an average of 53.5 ± 7.93 days, respectively.

Efficacy and economics of biopesticides in management of tomato fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)

Efficacy and economics of biopesticides in management of tomato fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)

Field Assessment of Insecticides as Well as Bio-Pesticides to Manage the Tomato Fruit Borer Helicoverpa armigera Hubner

A field experiment was conducted for the management of tomato fruit borer in the winter period of 2021-22 at the Vegetable Research Station of C.S.A. University, Kanpur. The current study assessed the effectiveness of some novel insecticides as well as bio-pesticides on the Azad T-6 cultivar of tomato crop. Our team used chemical insecticides such as Flubendiamide 39.35% S.C. (Suspension concentrate), Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% S.C. and Fipronil 5% S.C. and bio-pesticides viz. Spinosad 45% S.C., Helicoverpa armigera nuclear polyhedrosis virus (HaNPV) 2% A.S. (Aqueous suspension), Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Bt) 5% W.P. (Wettable powder) and Neemarin 1500 ppm (parts per million) at their suggested quantity. The observations on the number of larvae were recorded from ten arbitrarily tagged plants in each plot treated with insecticides and bio-pesticides. It was recorded that Flubendiamide 39.35% S.C. @ 0.2 ml/lit was found to be the most efficient against the fruit borer larvae trailed by Chlorantraniliprole 18.50% S.C. @ 0.3 ml/lit in decreasing the larval population and displayed maximum percent decrease in fruit infestation over untreated control. Amongst the bio-pesticides, Spinosad 45% S.C. @ 0.2 ml/lit was found to be the maximum effective over untreated control. All the used insecticides and bio-pesticides in the existing field experiment were found to be superior to the control.

Efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin SBI-Ma-SF 5 strain against tomato fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidopetra: Noctuidae)

The polyphagous tomato fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) causes yield loss of 40 – 60 per cent under favourable conditions in Tomato. The farmers rely upon chemical insecticides for its management and its injudicious use leads to unwarranted problems. The use of bio pesticides as a component of integrated pest management is one of the important factor to overcome the pesticides related issue. Among the bio-pesticides entomopathogenic fungi proved their ability against many Lepidopterans. The pathogenicity of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin SBI SF Ma 5 strain was studied against tomato fruit borer H. armigera. The median concentration (LC50) of M. anisopliae SBI Ma SF 1 strain was 3.1 x 108 conidia/ml with fiducial limits 2.2 x 107 to 4.2 x 109 conidia/ml. The median lethal time (LT50) value was to be 6.53 days. The SBI SF Ma 5 strain caused 88.83 per cent mortality in second instar H. armigera at 1 x 109 conidia/ml concentration. The decrease in conidial concentration reduced the efficacy of M. anisopliae strain. This strain can be used in the H. armigera management after field evaluation.

Bio controlled efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis cry protein protection against tomato fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera in a laboratory environment

Bio-pesticides that utilize beneficial microbial agents represent a new option that can potentially reduce reliance on chemical pesticides. To facilitate control of crop pests, this study includes both selection and characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis strains based on Cry gene content and toxicity evaluation. The result is an effective and non-hazardous polyphagous lepidopteran pest controller, Helicoverpa armigera. To achieve this objective, we selected ten soil bacteria samples selected from 10 different agricultural regions in Queretaro State, Mexico. Certainly, 65 and 130 kDa protein bands were observed in SDS-PAGE analysis of spore-crystal mixtures. Efficacy of bio-pesticides, 4 g/L effective water yielded maximum mortality; a mean of 64.88% of tomato fruit borer larvae were eliminated. The PCR sequences of bacterial strain were characterized and showed 98–99% similarity shows the distance from comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of Bacillus thuringiensis.

Toxicity of biopesticides against tomato fruit borer helicoverpa armigera (Hubn.)

Toxicity of biopesticides against tomato fruit borer helicoverpa armigera (Hubn.)

Evaluation of tomato genotypes against fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera

Screening of 21 tomato genotypes for their susceptibility to the fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera revealed that all genotypes are susceptible. However, the genotype SK-TVAR 1093 gave maximum fruit yield of 350.46 q/ha with damage of 6.35 and 7.64% on number and weight basis, respectively. The least fruit yield of 267.96 q/ha with damage of 33.52 and 32.64% (on number and weigh basis, respectively) was in the genotype SK-TVAR 1107. Among the commercial cultivars, maximum yield was obtained in Punjab Chuhura (311.19 q/ha) and Arka Vikas gave the least yield (284.47 q/ha). Genotypes SK-TVAR-1048, SK-TVAR-1093, SK-TVAR-1142, SK-TVAR-1181 and H-86 with < 10.0% damage could be categorized as resistant; and the maximum damage of 30.1–40.0% was in the genotypes SK-TVAR-1018, SK-TVAR-1107, SK-TVAR-1121 and Arka Vikas, thus getting categorized as susceptible.

Screening of tomato varieties against tomato fruit borer and associated plant characters

Ten tomato varieties were evaluated to find out their level of resistance against tomato fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under field conditions. The abundance of fruit borer larvae and their infestation, plant morphological characters, nitrogen content, yield and seed germination of the varieties were studied. The varieties differed in their leaf thickness, trichome density, rind thickness and nitrogen content. The fruit borer larval abundance and fruit infestation among the varieties varied significantly. Five varieties namely BARI Tomato-1, BARI Tomato-4, BARI Tomato-10, BARI Tomato-11 and BARI Tomato-15 were least infested by fruit borer (3.6 to 10.0%) and had significantly lower abundance of larvae (0.3 to 0.7 plant-1), and the varieties were classified as resistant. The yield reduction and seed germination of these varieties ranged from 3.9 to 7.9% and 76.7 to 90.7%, respectively. Four varieties namely BARI Tomato-2, BARI Tomato-5, BARI Tomato-12 and BARI Tomato-14 were graded as moderately resistant as the varieties showed 12.4 to 16.2% fruit infestation and revealed 1.0 to 1.3 larvae plant-1. The yield reduction and seed germination of these varieties ranged from 9.6 to13.2% and 66.7 to 73.3%, respectively. Only the variety BARI Tomato-7 was categorized as moderately susceptible which had significantly the highest abundance of fruit borer larva (1.7plant-1), fruit infestation (22.2%) and yield loss (15.9%), and lowest germination performance (62.7%). The study indicated that the varieties differed in their levels of resistance and this promising source of resistance may be incorporated in the integrated management of tomato fruit borer.SAARC J. Agri., 14(2): 150-161 (2016)

Evaluate the efficacy of Bio-Pesticides and novel insecticides against to mato fruit borer helicoverpa armigera (HUB.) in Western Plain Zone of U.P. with the cost benefit ratio

Evaluate the efficacy of Bio-Pesticides and novel insecticides against to mato fruit borer helicoverpa armigera (HUB.) in Western Plain Zone of U.P. with the cost benefit ratio

Molecular diversity of Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) in India

Molecular diversity of genes, namely actin, glutathione-S-transferase (gst), cytochrome P450, chymotrypsin and serine protease from the interspecific populations of the fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera was studied to understand the sequence polymorphism. These genes were cloned, sequenced and analysed employing the sequence editor BioEdit and MEGA 4.0. Sequence comparisons showed variation of the genes as follows: Actin – 35 positions, 3.09%, gst – 60 positions, 9.66%, cytochrome P450 – 64 positions, 8.11%, chymotrypsin – 36 positions, 4.02%, and serine protease – 119 positions, 15.31%. Phylogenetic analysis concluded that these intraspecific populations from India formed a major clade. Comparison of deduced amino acid sequences concluded that there were no major differences except for serine protease. This analysis will be useful for delineating genetic relationships amongst the intraspecific populations and estimating genetic diversity, thereby gaining insight into genetic structure of populations.

Semiochemicals produced by tomato varieties and their role in parasitism of Corcyra cephalonica (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) by the egg parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

Hexane extracts of 10 different varieties of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) obtained in the vegetative and flowering periods were studied for synomonal response of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis Ishii. Gas chromatography of leaf extracts revealed the presence of saturated hydrocarbons ranging from C14 to C29 in varying numbers and concentrations. These hydrocarbons elicited varied synomonal responses from the parasitoid. The quantity of individual hydrocarbons varied from 72 to 34,940 ppm in the vegetative period and from 4 to 46,170 ppm in the flowering period. Hexane extracts obtained during the flowering period showed a greater synomonal response compared with those obtained during the vegetative period. A better response observed for certain varieties of tomato at a particular period could be due to the presence of higher concentrations of favourable hydrocarbons relative to unfavourable ones. Synomonal activity seems to be associated mainly with tricosane, heneicosane, pentacosane and hexacosane during the vegetative period and with heneicosane and hexacosane during the flowering period. In the vegetative period, the tomato variety To-Pant-T4 elicited the highest activity as well as parasitism at the lowest concentration of 25,000 ppm, which was higher than other varieties at all concentrations. Varieties To-BT-116-32, To-BT-20-2-1 and To-Pant-T3 in the vegetative period and To-Selection-15, To-Selection-32 and To-BT-22-2-1 in the flowering period elicited higher responses than the other varieties. To-BT-20-2-1 elicited a maximum response in the flowering period, which may be due to the presence of higher relative quantities of tricosane, heneicosane and hexacosane. In view of these findings, tomato varieties with favourable semiochemicals could be exploited in an integrated pest management programme to enhance the effectiveness of the egg parasitoid T. chilonis against the fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hb).

Synergistic interaction between sublethal doses of Bacillus thuringiensis and Campoletis chlorideae in managing Helicoverpa armigera

Campoletis chlorideae Uchida (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) is an important solitary larval endoparasitoid of the tomato fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in India. The interaction between Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki (Btk) HD-1 and C. chlorideae was studied under laboratory condition to explore their compatibility in managing H. armigera. The results had indicated that the growth and development of H. armigera was affected in a dose-dependent manner upon feeding on sublethal doses of Btk HD-1-treated diets. There were no larval survivors in lethal doses of Btk HD-1 (LC70 and LC90). The growth and survival of the parasitoid were normal when the host larvae were fed with sublethal doses or subjected to short time exposure to lethal doses of Btk HD-1. However, the parasitoid offsprings developed slowly and pupal as well as adult period, adult weight and adult emergence rate were reduced significantly if the parasitoid was developing inside a severely Bt intoxicated host larvae. There were no evident differences in longevity of parasitoid adults that were fed on honey solution containing different concentrations of Btk HD-1 as compared to adults fed only on honey solution. This indicates no direct adverse effect of Btk HD-1 on C. chlorideae. Further, the gravid female parasitoid did not discriminate Btk HD-1 intoxicated and normal H. armigera larvae for oviposition. The result implies that spore crystal formulation of Btk HD-1 can be effectively used in a synergistic manner along with existing natural or prereleased population of C. chlorideae in organic farming or as components in biointensive IPM module for managing H. armigera.

Antixenosis resistance in tomato to the fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)

Antixenosis resistance to Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was studied in 10 tomato accessions selected from a germplasm of 321 at Tamil Nadu, India, using free-choice and no-choice laboratory experiments. The foliage and fruits of two accessions, namely PT 4287 and Varushanadu Local were the least preferred for feeding in both tests. In the no-choice (confinement) test, Seijima Jeisei, Varushanadu Local and PT 4287 were the most preferred for oviposition, but had low egg hatch rates. In the free-choice test, these accessions were the least preferred for oviposition. The first and second instars preferred to feed on the foliage of 30- and 45-day-old plants, respectively than 60- and 75-day-old plants, whereas ovipositional preference was insignificant among the various plant ages.

Tomato expressing Cry1A(b) insecticidal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis protected against tomato fruit borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) damage in the laboratory, greenhouse and field

The fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a serious pest of several crops in India. Among these, tomato, cotton, pigeon pea, and chickpea consistently suffer extensive damage by the insect in different parts of the country. The pesticides no longer control the insect. Among the alternative tactics for its control, transgenic plants expressing toxic proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis offer a sustainable and effective method to prevent the crop losses because of H. armigera attack. The transgenic Bt tomato plants expressing a Cry1Ab protein of B. thuringiensis suffered significantly lower damage by H. armigera than the non-transgenic control plants in the laboratory, greenhouse and field. The Bt plants caused 100% mortality of the larvae and did not support any growth and development by the latter. The only damage caused by the invading neonate larvae was to the terminal parts of tomato shoots, which underwent wilting though larvae died thereafter. In view of this, a complete control of the H. armigera by Bt plants in the field will have to be supported by the other tactics of pest management such as bio-control agents or limited use of pesticides.

African marigold as a trap crop for the management of the fruit borerHelicoverpa armigeraon tomato

Abstract The possibility of using okra, field bean, pigeon pea, sunflower, maize and marigold as trap crops for the management of the fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) on tomato was evaluated. Initial experiments involved observational row trials with simultaneous planting/seeding of both tomato and trap crops in exploded blocks. One row of these crops was raised on either side and parallel to 10 and 15 rows of tomato respectively. Results indicated that use of African tall variety of marigold cv. Golden Age afforded maximum reduction of both eggs and larvae of H. armigera in the intercropped tomato with a consequent reduction in the number of bored fruits. The rest of the crops were ineffective because they were less preferred and also because flowering in these crops did not synchronize with tomato. Based on the success in observational row trials, systematic studies involving planting combinations of 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 rows of tomato were evaluated with one row of marigold planted on eit...