Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2018; 7(5): 2711-2715 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 JPP 2018; 7(5): 2711-2715 Influence of castor genotypes with different wax Received: 01-07-2018 Accepted: 03-08-2018 blooms on oviposition preference of endolarval parasitoid Snellenius maculipennis (Szepligate) of K Chakkani Priya Acharya N.G. Ranga castor semilooper Achaea janata L Agricultural University, Lam, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India KV Hari Prasad K Chakkani Priya, KV Hari Prasad, NC Venkateswarlu and V Umamahesh Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Lam, Abstract Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India The A. janata larvae reared on susceptible genotype DPC-9 had significantly greater parasitisation by S. maculipennis than the moderately resistant genotype 48-1 and resistant genotype GCH-4 tested under no- NC Venkateswarlu choice, dual-choice and multi-choice conditions, suggesting that host genotypes plays a significant role in Acharya N.G. Ranga the effectiveness of S. maculipennis in parasitisation of A. janata larvae. The increased parasitism of A. Agricultural University, Lam, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India janata larvae by S. maculipennis on the susceptible genotype DPC-9 might be due to the fact that the host larvae was healthy on the susceptible genotype because lack of resistance to the herbivore. Percentage V Umamahesh parasitism was greater under no-choice condition as compared to that under multi-choice and dual choice Acharya N.G. Ranga conditions, which may be largely because of non-availability of alternate host plant to the females of S. Agricultural University, Lam, maculipennis in no choice condition. The genotype DPC-9 was hospitable to S. maculipennis, better Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India suited for use in integrated pest management to minimize the losses due to A. janata in castor. Keywords: Achaea janata, Snellenius maculipennis, parasitisation, susceptible, resistant 1. Introduction Castor, Ricinus communis L. is one of the most important commercial, non-edible oilseed crop in Euphorbiaceae family. The genus, "Ricinus" is derived from Latin word meaning "dog tick" because of it's seed resemblance to the common pest of dog. Castor oil and its derivatives, besides being used in medicine, are also used in a wide range of sectors including agriculture, textile industry, paper industry, plastic engineering, rubber and pharmaceuticals (Annual Report, DOR, 2003-04). Castor semilooper, A. janata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a polyphagous pest and feeds on many different species of plants. Alternate hosts include banana, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, crown of thorns, Ficus, macadamia, mustard, poinsettia, rose, sugarcane and tomato as well as some legumes, teas, and other Brassica species. Castor is the major host, under severe infestations, caterpillar devour the green foliage completely, leaving only the veins and enforce [7] the farmers to re-sow the crop (Gaikwad and Bilapate, 1992) . Castor semilooper, A. janata is regulated by hymenopteran endolarval parasitoid Snellenius (=Microplitis) maculipennis (Szepligate) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) which is cosmopolitan in distribution (Gaikwad and Bilapate, 1989) [6]. Under field conditions, it is capable of [14] parasitizing up to 77.31% of semilooper population (Rai and Jayaramaiah, 1978) . The early instars of A. janata were attacked by the parasitoid and parasitized larvae did not feed and died later on (Somasekhar et al., 1993) [18]. The study of tri-trophic interactions is important in order to understand natural enemies interactions and to manipulate these interactions in pest control (Agarwal, 2000) [1]. Herbivore-induced plant volatiles have been suggested to function as indirect defence signals that attract natural enemies of herbivores. Several insect parasitoids are known to exploit such plant-provided cues to locate their [8] hosts (Hoballah and Turlings, 2001) . Generally, parasitoids are host specific and parasitize the host in a density dependent manner (Annecke and Moran, 1982), and when exploited successfully this can be an effective way to reduce the frequency of pesticide applications and also reduced environmental pollution (Talekar et al., 1990) [19]. Genotypic resistance has a considerable influence on parasitism of insect pests in different crops. The nature of influence depends on the insect pest, natural enemy, and the crop (Sharma et al. Correspondence [16] K Chakkani Priya 2003) . However, there is no information on genotype effect on the activity and abundance of Acharya N.G. Ranga natural enemies in castor. The present studies were undertaken to study the effect of different Agricultural University, Lam, genotypes of castor on the parasitisation of A. janata by S. maculipennis to identify genotypes that Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India are compatible with the natural enemies of this pest. ~ 2711 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2. Materials and Methods and GCH-4 (Red, triple bloom, resistant) showing different 2.1 Maintenance of stock-culture of semilooper A. janata degrees of resistance to A. janata (Sarma et al., 2006., Naik, The stock culture of A. janata was maintained in the 2017) [15, 12] were grown in plastic pots of 23 cm diameter and Insectary, Department of Entomology, S.V. Agricultural 20 cm height during kharif 2017 under net house conditions. College, ANGRAU, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh at 25 ± 2 °C, The seeds of these germplasm were procured from Regional 75 ± 5% RH during 2017-18. Adults of A. janata were Agricultural Research Station, Palem and The Indian Institute collected from college farm and Regional Agricultural of Oilseeds Research (IIOR), Hyderabad. The substrate used Research Station, Tirupati and released into oviposition cages for growing of plants was red soil: compost in 3 : 1 ratio. (32 cm × 30 cm × 30 cm) for mating and were provided with The seeds of test plants were treated with fungicides 20% honey solution mixed with vitamin - E tablets in cotton (Mancozeb 2g Kg1) to prevent seed-borne fungal diseases. All swabs. The petioles of castor leaves were kept in conical the normal agronomic practices were followed for pot flasks by placing the cut end of petioles dipped in water culturing of plants. Leaves from these castor genotypes at containing 10% sugar solution, these leaves acted as substrate peak vegetative stage were used in the experiments. Staggered for oviposition and old leaves were replaced with fresh leaves planting of castor genotypes was done for continuous supply as and when required. After one or two days of exposure, of leaves during the period of experimentation. leaves having eggs of A. janata were shifted to another separate plastic troughs of 25 cm diameter where the eggs Table 2.3: Bloom characters of castor genotypes used in the present were allowed to hatch. Fresh leaves were provided as and investigation. when required to the newly hatched larvae and the rearing Genotype Bloom nature Character troughs were cleaned regularly to keep a healthy stock No bloom or waxy material on any DPC-9 Green zero culture. part of the plant. Pupae formed from the stock culture were collected and kept Bloom on stems, petioles and lower in separate oviposition cages for adult emergence for further 48-1 Red double surface of leaves but not on the rearing as described above. The first instars emerging from upper surface of the leaves. these stock culture were used for all the experiments in the Bloom on every part of plant such present investigations. GCH-4 Red triple as stems, petioles, upper and lower surface of leaves. (Annual Report, DOR, 1977) 2.2 Maintenance of nucleus culture of parasitoid, Snellenius maculipennis 2.4 Role of castor wax blooms on ovipositional behavior of The stock culture of S. maculipennis was maintained at S. maculipennis. Insectary, Department of Entomology, S.V. Agricultural 2.4.1 Free choice / Multiple choice College, Tirupati at 25 ± 2 °C, 75 ± 5% RH. Initially, A fully developed leaves from each green zero bloom, red parasitized larvae of A. janata with cocoons were collected double bloom and red triple bloom were excised upto petiole from college farm and Regional Agricultural Research and cut ends of petiole was placed in conical flask with 10% Station, Tirupati and were kept in Petri plates of 15 cm sugar solution and this setup was used for oviposition diameter. Adults emerged from these cocoons were released preference of S. maculipennis. into oviposition cages for mating and were provided with 5% Ten first instar A. janata larvae were released on leaves each honey solution mixed with proteinex powder dipped in cotton of zero, double and triple bloom. The larvae were allowed to swab as food material. feed on the leaves of respective genotypes for two days. Care Second instar larvae of A. janata were released on local castor was taken to prevent movement of larvae from leaves of one variety leaves and were offered to adults of S. maculipennis genotype to another by keeping conical flasks (with leaves) for oviposition in oviposition cages. The cut end of petioles of on a 20 cm diameter trough underneath and were arranged in castor leaves were dipped in water in a conical flask such a way that the leaves do not touch each other. containing 10% sugar solution. After exposing the larvae for After two days of larval feeding, five pairs of adult parasitoids 24 to 48 hrs to the adult parasitoids, the parasitised larvae were released inside the cage and allowed to oviposit (free were collected and reared separately in plastic troughs of 20 choice condition) on the larvae of A. janata feeding on cm diameter and provided with castor leaves till cocoon different castor genotypes with different blooms. There were formation. After formation of the cocoon from parasitized total of eight replications. After exposing the larvae for 24 to larvae, parasitized larvae with cocoons still attached to its 48 hrs to the adult parasitoids, the parasitized larvae were body were kept in Petri plates for further rearing as described collected and reared separately in plastic troughs and provided above.