| Summary: | <i>Solanum viarum</i> has been proposed as a potential dead-end trap crop for the management of <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i> because of its unsuitability for larval growth and survival despite being overwhelmingly preferred for oviposition. This study delved into the different <i>S. viarum</i> accessions for ovipositional preference and non-suitability for larval growth and survival of <i>H. armigera</i>. Besides, foliage trichomes, acylsugars, and phenolic content of <i>S. viarum</i> plants were assessed and compared with tomato. Since there is no significant variation in the ovipositional preference and larval performance of <i>H. armigera</i>, our result revealed that all those evaluated accessions of <i>S. viarum</i> have the potential to be used as a dead-end trap crop for the management of <i>H. armigera</i>. However, significant variation among the <i>S. viarum</i> accessions in terms of <i>H. armigera</i> oviposition was also evident in a no-choice experiment. Because of high-density glandular trichomes, acylsugars, and phenolic content, <i>S. viarum</i> significantly impaired <i>H. armigera</i> larval growth and survival compared to the tomato. Hence, our study elucidated that the <i>S. viarum</i> plant fits with the criteria for dead-end trap crop, and has the potential as a dead-end trap crop for the <i>H. armigera</i>, which needs to be tested under large, open-field conditions.
|
|---|