Life Table Parameters and Oviposition Preference of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) on Six Brassicaceous Crop Plants

Abstract

The oviposition preferences and larval development of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), were evaluated in the laboratory on canola, Brassica napus L. and five Brassica oleracea L. cultivars: broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, red cabbage, and white cabbage. Adults from larvae fed on cauliflower and canola lived longer than those fed other cultivars, whereas the oviposition period was longest for cauliflower (5.54 d) and shortest for females reared on kohlrabi (2.68 d). The oviposition period for canola and broccoli was relatively long compared with white cabbage, red cabbage, and kohlrabi. Significantly more eggs were oviposited on cauliflower (163.71 eggs per female) than on canola (139.23 eggs per female) and the other B. oleracea cultivars, although broccoli also was preferred over white cabbage, red cabbage, and kohlrabi. The differences in total development times of immature stages on Brassica plants tested were significant, being shortest on cauliflower (17.60 d) and longest on kohlrabi (21.12 d). The moths reared on cauliflower and Kohlrabi, respectively, had the highest (65.46 offspring per individual) and lowest (12.71 offspring per individual) R0 values. Also, moths reared on cauliflower had significantly higher r value (0.200 d-1). The lowest r value was obtained when individuals fed on Kohlrabi (0.105 d-1). In free-choice situation, oviposition on canola and cauliflower was similar, but numbers of eggs deposited on these plants exceeded other plants. The amounts of glucosinolate were significantly greater in canola and cauliflower, intermediate in white cabbage, lower in broccoli and kohlrabi, and the lowest in red cabbage.

Keywords: diamondback moth; glucosinolate; reproduction.