Ovipositional preference of eggplant fruit and shoot borer, leucinodes orbonalis Guenee for different eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) varieties

Issue Date

4-2010

Abstract

The ovipositional behavior of eggplant fruit and shoot borer (EFSB), Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee, was studied on nine eggplant varieties, namely: Balbalusa, Bilog-Pangasinan, Bilog-San Roque, Casino, Concepcion, Dumaguete Long Purple (DLP), Kirit, Mara, and Mistisa. The number of eggs laid was recorded 3 days after moth infestation at late vegetative to early flowering and/or fruiting stage of the test plants. Test plants were characterized morphologically to determine the association of morphological characteristics with the ovipositional preference of EFSB. Female EFSB transferred randomly from one plant to another during oviposition. Majority of the eggs laid were found on the top and middle leaves of eggplant and least on the bottom leaf. Eggs were laid over the trichomes, near the veinlets of the leaf undersurface, either singly or in groups of 2-4. Based on number of eggs laid, the decreasing order of preference of L. orbonalis for the eggplant varieties offered was Bilog-San Roque > Mara > DLP > Balbalusa=Bilog-Pangasinan > Mistisa=Casino=Kirit > Concepcion. The eggs laid on the first two were significantly more than those on the last four varieties mentioned. Since all the eggplant varieties used were deposited with eggs, the results of this study suggest that trichome length and density in eggplant are not limiting factors to oviposition by the moth. Leaf and calyx color also did not influence the choice for egg deposition. Allelochemicals or secondary plant substances could possibly be responsible for ovipositional preference of the adults.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

24

Issue

1

Page

26-38

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Physical Description

figures ; tables

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

LEUCINODES ORBONALIS; SOLANUM MELONGENA; OVIPOSITION; SEXUAL REPRODUCTION; MASS REARING

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