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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Evaluation of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) varieties for use as trap plants for the management of African stemborer (Busseola fusca) in a push-pull strategy
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, Volume 124, No. 2, Year 2007
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Description
We evaluated eight Napier grass [Pennisetum purpureum Schumach (Poaceae)] varieties, used in various parts of eastern Africa as fodder, for their potential role as trap plants in the management of the African stemborer, Busseola fusca Füller (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) through a push-pull strategy. Oviposition preference, larval orientation, settling, arrest and dispersal, feeding, mortality and survival, and development were determined for each of these varieties under laboratory and screen house conditions. Two-choice tests showed that only two of the varieties tested (cv. Bana and cv. Uganda Hairless) were preferentially chosen by gravid female moths for oviposition over a susceptible maize variety, cv. Western Hybrid 502. Larval preference was, however, highly variable. Larval feeding by first instars on the maize leaves was more intense and significantly more than on leaves of all the Napier grass varieties evaluated. Food consumed and amounts assimilated by the third instars over a 24-h period were not different among larvae fed on stems of maize and those fed on stems of the various Napier grass varieties. Larval survival was significantly lower on all the Napier grass varieties (below 3%) than on maize (about 44%). Similarly, larval development was about 2-3 weeks longer on majority of the Napier grass varieties. It was concluded that cv. Bana had potential for use as a trap plant in the management of B. fusca because it was more preferred by the moths for oviposition, equally preferred as maize by the larvae for orientation, settling, and arrest, and allowed minimal survival of the larvae. It can thus be used with such 'push' plants as Desmodium spp. (Fabaceae) in a 'push-pull' strategy, but the effectiveness of such a strategy would strictly depend on proper establishment and management of these companion plants. © 2007 The Authors.
Authors & Co-Authors
Khan, Zeyaur Rahman
Kenya, Nairobi
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
Midega, Charles Aura Odhiambo
Kenya, Nairobi
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
Wadhams, Lester J.
United Kingdom, Harpenden
Rothamsted Research
Pickett, John Anthony
United Kingdom, Harpenden
Rothamsted Research
Mumuni, Abdulai
Ghana, Tamale
Csir - Savanna Agricultural Research Institute
Statistics
Citations: 118
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/j.1570-7458.2007.00569.x
ISSN:
00138703
e-ISSN:
15707458
Research Areas
Food Security
Study Locations
Uganda
Participants Gender
Female