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Cotton Allelochemics and Growth of Tobacco Budworm Larvae 1
Author(s) -
Jenkins Johnie N.,
Hedin P. A.,
Parrott W. L.,
McCarty J. C.,
White W. H.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1983.0011183x002300060039x
Subject(s) - heliothis virescens , biology , gossypol , larva , botany , toxicology , noctuidae , biochemistry
Eight alleged allelochemics that naturally occur in cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., or as a constituent part, were added to a commercial wheat‐germ diet at various concentrations. Neonate larvae of tobacco budworm [ Heliothis virescens (F.)] were allowed to feed for 5 days and then weighed to determine the effects of allelochemics on larval growth. Regression equations were fitted to the data. A linear regression in the form Y = a + bX described the relationship for cyanidin, delphinidin, and gossypol up to 0.20% in the diet. A curvilinear regression equation in the general form of Y = aX b described the relationships for catechin, condensed tannin, chrysanthemin (cyanidin ‐3‐β‐glucoside), isoquercitrin, and quercetin. These were fed at higher levels (up to 1%) than the three allelochemics fitted with the linear regression equation. The level of each allelochemic in cotton required to reduce larval weight 90% is within the range of the amounts found in various cotton strains and primitive accessions. All except gossypol are found in several plant families and may thus be useful in developing plant resistance to tobacco budworm in several plant families. Several species of Heliothis are pests of economic importance worldwide.