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INSECTS AND RAPESEED PLANTS By SUSAN K BARNABE B.Sc, The University of British Columbia, 1971 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Department of Plant Science) We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA December 1984 ©SUSAN K BARNABE, 1984 In presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for an advanced degree at the University of British Columbia, I agree that the Library shall make it freely available for reference and study. I further agree that permission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the head of my department or by his or her representatives. It is understood that copying or publication of this thesis for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. Department Of Plant Science The University of British Columbia 1956 Main Mall Vancouver, Canada V6T 1Y3 Date ABSTRACT Rapeseed is grown from two closely related species of Brassica in many varieties. The behaviour of seven insects was studied to determine their responses to low erucic acid rapeseed, represented by a typical and a Canola variety of each species. The Canola varieties have a lower gluco- sinolate concentration in the seed coat than typical varieties. The insects were chosen because they were oligophagous or polyphagous. The actions of adults of two species of moths, Mamestra configurata Walker and Plutella maculipennis (Curtis), were studied by using an olfactometer; four species of aphids, Myzus persicae Sulzer, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Ashmead), Brevicoryne brassicae (Linnaeus), and Acrythosiphon pisum (Harris), were studied when the adults were placed at the base of each type of plant. The insects responded in accordance with their normal associations with cruciferous plants as hosts. Their responses were not materially affected by genetic differences among the four varieties, even though these included distinct morphological and biochemical differences. Behavioural differences towards plant species were observed in the polyphagous aphids, which affected their distribution on the plants. These differences were not associated with varieties or glucosinolate contents. These results indicated that the differences between the two rapeseed species and typical and Canola varieties would neither material1y affect the responses of attacking insects nor the resistance of the plants to insect attack in the field. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 Rapeseed Plants 5 Introduction 5 Materials and Methods 11 Female Moths and Rapeseed Plants 15 Introduction 15 Materials and Methods 17 Olfactometer 17 Experimental Design 21 Bertha Armyworm Moth 23 Diamondback Moth 25 Experimental Procedure 26 Results and Discussion 29 Bertha Armyworm Moth 30 Diamondback Moth 36 Summary 39 Aphids and Rapeseed Plants 41 Introduction 41 Materials and Methods 44 Experimental Design 44 Aphids 46 Experimental Procedure 48 i v Results and Discussion 51 Aphid species 52 Chambers 58 Plants 62 Summary 72 Discussion and Conclusions 75 Personal Communications 78 Literature Cited 79 Appendices Appendix A. Glucosinolates as allomones and kairomones. 88 Appendix B. Design for the experiments with female moths on rapeseed plants with the arrangement of the varieties designated by C = Candle, T = Torch, M = Midas, R = Regent and with trial 1 at the top and chamber 1 at the left of each Latin square 93 V Appendix C. Composition of Vanderzant modification vitamin mixture for insects. 94 Appendix D. ANOVA tables for the experiments with female moths on rapeseed plants 95 Appendix E. Design for the experiments with aphids on rapeseed plants with the arrangement of the varieties designated by C = Candle, T = Torch, M = Midas, R = Regent, S = Standard and the replicates designated by number. The top row of plants was at the back of the chamber 114 Appendix F. ANOVA tables for the experiments with aphids on rapeseed plants. 115 Appendix G. Glucosinolate biochemistry in rapeseed plants 119 Appendix H. Pest management in rapeseed 123 VI LIST OF TABLES I. Objectives of plant breeding in rapeseed, taken from Loof and Appelqvist (1972) 10 II. Per cent of total rapeseed acreage seeded in the Prairie provinces for the selected varieties from 1977 to 1983 compiled from the Prairie Grain Variety Surveys. 12 III. Armyworm experiment effect significant at the 1% level for number of moths, with the means and Duncan's multiple range test groups designated by letters compared horizontally; vertical compari• son is not valid 31 IV. Armyworm position effect at the 1% level for number of moths, with the means and Duncan's multiple range test groups designated by letters compared horizontally; vertical comparison is not valid 32 V. Armyworm age effect significant at the 5% level for number of moths, with the means and Duncan's multiple range test groups designated by letters compared horizontally; vertical comparison is not valid 34 vn Armyworm age effect significant at the 1% level for number of egg plaques and average fecundity, with the means for the old moths listed. No comparison is valid except with the means for young moths which equalled 0.0 Diamondback age effect significant at the 5% level for number of moths, with the means and Duncan's multiple range test groups designated by letters compared horizontally; vertical comparison is not valid Diamondback age effect significant at the 5% level for number of eggs and average fecundity, with the means for the old moths listed. No comparison is valid except with the means for young moths which equalled 0.0 Aphid experiment effect significant at the 1% level for the sum of the surviving adults with the means and Duncan's multiple range test groups designated by letter, compared vertically. Green peach aphid: plant effect significant at the 1% level for the sum of the adults, the average fecundity and the number of nymphs on day 5, with the means and Duncan's multiple range test groups designated by letter, compared vertically. Horizontal comparison is valid only for the plant site analysis within the sum of the adults or the number of nymphs on day 5 Pink potato aphid: plant effect significant at the 1% level for the sum of the adults, the average fecundity and the number of nymphs on day 5, with the means and Duncan's multiple range test groups designated by letter, compared vertically. Horizontal comparison is valid only for the plant site analysis within the sum of the adults or the number of nymphs on day 5 Green potato aphid: plant effect significant at the 1% level for the sum of the adults, the average fecundity and the number of nymphs on day 5, with the means and Duncan's multiple range test groups designated by letter, compared vertically. Horizontal comparison is valid only for the plant site analysis within the sum of the adults or the number of nymphs on day 5 Cabbage aphid: plant effect significant at the 1% level for the sum of the adults, the average fecundity and the number of nymphs on day 5, with the means and Duncan's multiple range test groups ix designated by letter, compared vertically. Horizontal comparison is valid only for the plant site analysis within the sum of the adults or the number of nymphs on day 5 Pea aphid: plant effect significant at the 1% level for the sum of the adults, the average fecundity and the number of nymphs on day 5, with the means and Duncan's multiple range test groups designated by letter, compared vertically. Hori• zontal comparison is valid only for the plant site analysis within the sum of the adults or the number of nymphs on day 5 Aphid chamber effect significant at the 1% level, for the sum of the adults at the 5% level, for the number of nymphs on day 5, with the means and Duncan's multiple range test groups designated by letter, compared vertically. Horizontal compari• son is valid only for the chamber analysis within the sum of the adults, or the number of nymphs on day 5 Standard plants: plant effect significant at the 1% level for the sum of the adults, the average fecundity and the number of nymphs on day 5, with the means and Duncan's multiple range test groups X designated by letter, compared vertically. Hori• zontal comparison is valid only for the plant site analysis within the sum of the adults or the number of nymphs on day 5. This table summarizes results from Tables X to XIV. 63 XVII. Composite population of all aphid species: plant effect significant at the 1% level for the sum of the adults, the average fecundity and the number of nymphs on day 5, with the means and Duncan's multiple range test groups designated by letter, compared vertically. Horizontal comparison is valid only for the plant site analysis within the sum of the adults or the number of nymphs on day 5. 65 XVIII. B_. napus, Regent: plant effect significant at the 1% level for the sum of the adults, the average fecundity and the number of nymphs on day 5, with the means and Duncan's multiple range test groups designated by letter, compared vertically. Horizontal comparison is valid only for the plant site analysis within the sum of the adults or the number of nymphs on day 5. This table summarizes results from Tables X to XIV. 67 xi B_. napus, Midas: plant effect significant at the 1% level for the sum of the adults, the average fecundity and the number of nymphs on day 5, with the means and Duncan's multiple range test groups designated by letter, listed vertically. Horizontal comparison is valid only for the plant site analysis within the sum of the adults or the number of nymphs on day 5.