Feeding preferences of the legume pod borer Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) larvae and suitability of different flower parts for larval development

    Traore, F and Dabire-Binso, C L and Malick Ba, N and Sanon, A and Pittendrigh, B R (2013) Feeding preferences of the legume pod borer Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) larvae and suitability of different flower parts for larval development. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 33 (02). pp. 107-113. ISSN 1742-7584

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    Abstract

    With the advent of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-cowpea, there is a need to identify the feeding preferences of Maruca vitrata Fab. to determine in which component of the plant the expression of the toxin needs to be the highest to ensure the greatest efficacy of insecticidal Bt proteins. In the current study, we examined the feeding preferences of M. vitrata larvae in a naturally infested cowpea field. We also tested, in the laboratory, the suitability of different flower components for the larval development of M. vitrata. Our results indicate that in the field, all types of flowers, regardless of their age, were infested with M. vitrata larvae. The reproductive organs, in the flowers, were the preferred feeding diet for the larvae. Laboratory bioassays confirmed that the reproductive organs were the optimal tissues for M. vitrata larval development. The implications of these findings for transgenic Bt-cowpea are discussed.

    Item Type: Article
    Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
    CRP: UNSPECIFIED
    Uncontrolled Keywords: cowpea, flower components, larval development
    Subjects: Others > Entomology
    Depositing User: Dr Rachit Saxena
    Date Deposited: 06 Jun 2013 11:06
    Last Modified: 14 Sep 2013 13:20
    URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/6844
    Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1742758413000088
    Projects: UNSPECIFIED
    Funders: Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Trade, US Agency for International Development - EDH-A-00-07-00005
    Acknowledgement: Dr Malick, Ba is presently associated with ICRISAT(Niamey)
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