Intraspecific and Interstage Similarities in Host-Plant Preference in the Diamondback Moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

The diamondback moth, <i>Plutella xylostella</i> L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is an important insect pest of cruciferous crops. Understanding its preference patterns can lead to more efficient management methods, such as trap crops. Several strains of <i>P. xylostella</i> w...

Descripció completa

Dades bibliogràfiques
Autors principals: Francisco Rubén Badenes-Pérez, David G. Heckel
Format: Article
Idioma:English
Publicat: MDPI AG 2022-12-01
Col·lecció:Horticulturae
Matèries:
Accés en línia:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/9/1/39
Descripció
Sumari:The diamondback moth, <i>Plutella xylostella</i> L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is an important insect pest of cruciferous crops. Understanding its preference patterns can lead to more efficient management methods, such as trap crops. Several strains of <i>P. xylostella</i> were used to test whether there were differences in oviposition preference in a four-choice setting, on abaxial versus adaxial leaf surfaces in 28 different plant species, and on substrates with different concentrations of sinigrin (allylglucosinolate). Additionally, the larval preference of <i>P. xylostella</i> was studied with 17 plant species of known glucosinolate content that were compared to <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> L. in two-choice tests. Our research shows that the diet on which <i>P. xylostella</i> has fed hardly affects multiple-choice host-plant preference, abaxial and adaxial oviposition preference, or oviposition response to pure glucosinolates. Our study also shows that glucosinolate content affects larval preference, which together with the known correlation between glucosinolate content and <i>P. xylostella</i> oviposition, indicates that crops with high glucosinolate content could be more susceptible to damage by <i>P. xylostella</i> than crops with low glucosinolate content. These findings are discussed in regards to their significance in the management of <i>P. xylostella</i>.
ISSN:2311-7524