卷蛾分索赤眼蜂对十字花科蔬菜挥发性物质的行为反应

在室内利用“Y”型嗅觉仪测定了卷蛾分索赤眼蜂Trichogrammatoidea bactrae Nagaraja对11种十字花科蔬菜挥发性物质不同浓度的嗅觉行为反应.结果表明:卷蛾分索赤眼蜂的嗅觉反应不仅与挥发物组分的种类有关,而且与每一种物质的浓度也有一定的关系.同一种挥发性物质因浓度的不同,对卷蛾分索赤眼蜂的作用...     

两种赤眼蜂对芥兰和菜心挥发物的嗅觉反应

为探明植物挥发性化合物在卷蛾分索赤眼蜂Trichogrammatoidea bactrae和拟澳洲赤眼蜂Trichogramma confusum寄主定向过程中的作用,本研究采用"Y"型嗅觉仪测定了这两种赤眼蜂对五种不同处理芥兰和菜心挥发物的嗅觉反应,结果表明:来自芥兰的完整植株、机械损伤植株、虫害损伤植株、虫菜复合体植株以及菜卵复合体植株的挥发物对卷蛾分索赤眼蜂有显著的吸引用,进入这些处理区的赤眼蜂数量分别占总试验蜂数的70.37%、75.0%、67.74%、68.42%和67.65%,显著高于对照;而其选择上述五种处理的菜心的数量分别占总试验蜂数的70.37%、72.73%、73.91%、70.37%和71.43%,显著高于对照,表明来自菜心各处理的挥发物对卷蛾分索赤眼蜂也具有显著的吸引作用.来自芥兰完整植株、机械损伤植株、虫害损伤植株、虫菜复合体植株及相应处理菜心的挥发物对拟澳洲赤眼蜂无显著吸引作用,进入芥兰和菜心处理区的赤眼蜂数量分别占总试验蜂数的62.5%、50.O%、50.0%、54.55%和60.O%、50.O%、54.84%、54.55%,与对照相比均差异不显著;而其选择芥兰和菜心的菜卵复合体植株的数量分别为72.97%和76.47%,均显著高于对照,表明带小菜蛾卵块的芥兰和菜心植株对拟澳洲赤眼蜂有显著吸引作用.     

湖南湘潭地区空心莲子草叶甲自然种群的越冬虫态与越冬生境

卷蛾分索赤眼蜂Trichogrammatoidea bactrae Nagaraja和拟澳洲赤眼蜂Trichogramma confusum Viggiani是小菜蛾Plutella xylostella (L.)的优势寄生蜂。本研究利用“Y”型管测定了2种赤眼蜂对小菜蛾P. xylostella利他素-卵表和腹部鳞片13种饱和烷烃的嗅觉反应。结果显示: 卷蛾分索赤眼蜂交配雌蜂进入2, 6, 10, 14-四甲基十五烷、正十五烷、正十七烷处理区的百分数分别为80.65%, 68.75%和66.67%, 表明这3种烷烃对卷蛾分索赤眼蜂交配雌蜂有显著的吸引作用, 其他10种饱和烷烃对卷蛾分索赤眼蜂雌蜂无明显作用。拟澳洲赤眼蜂进入2, 6, 10, 14-四甲基十五烷、正三十五烷和正十五烷处理区的数目分别占84.38%, 70%和62.16%, 表明其对拟澳洲赤眼蜂交配雌蜂起着显著的吸引作用, 而另外10种烷烃对拟澳洲赤眼蜂雌蜂无作用。卷蛾分索赤眼蜂和拟澳洲赤眼蜂未交配雄蜂进入13种烷烃处理区和对照区的时间均无显著差异, 表明利他素各组分对2种赤眼蜂未交配雄蜂均无吸引作用。     

卷蛾分索赤眼蜂和拟澳洲赤眼蜂对小菜蛾利他素各成分的嗅觉反应

卷蛾分索赤眼蜂Trichogrammatoidea bactrae Nagaraja和拟澳洲赤眼蜂Trichogramma confusum Viggiani是小菜蛾Plutella xylostella (L.)的优势寄生蜂。本研究利用“Y”型管测定了2种赤眼蜂对小菜蛾P. xylostella利他素-卵表和腹部鳞片13种饱和烷烃的嗅觉反应。结果显示: 卷蛾分索赤眼蜂交配雌蜂进入2, 6, 10, 14-四甲基十五烷、正十五烷、正十七烷处理区的百分数分别为80.65%, 68.75%和66.67%, 表明这3种烷烃对卷蛾分索赤眼蜂交配雌蜂有显著的吸引作用, 其他10种饱和烷烃对卷蛾分索赤眼蜂雌蜂无明显作用。拟澳洲赤眼蜂进入2, 6, 10, 14-四甲基十五烷、正三十五烷和正十五烷处理区的数目分别占84.38%, 70%和62.16%, 表明其对拟澳洲赤眼蜂交配雌蜂起着显著的吸引作用, 而另外10种烷烃对拟澳洲赤眼蜂雌蜂无作用。卷蛾分索赤眼蜂和拟澳洲赤眼蜂未交配雄蜂进入13种烷烃处理区和对照区的时间均无显著差异, 表明利他素各组分对2种赤眼蜂未交配雄蜂均无吸引作用。     

小菜蛾化学生态学研究现状与展望

本文综述了几种植物吸引或阻抑小菜蛾成虫产卵或幼虫取食的效应。完整的、机械损伤的和菜粉蝶为害的甘蓝类蔬菜释放出数十种醇、醛、酯、酮、硫化物、羧酸类、异硫氰酸酯类和萜烯类挥发性化合物。机械损伤的甘蓝和小菜蛾、菜粉蝶及蜗牛为害的甘蓝释放的挥发物引诱菜粉蝶绒茧蜂。小菜蛾为害甘蓝释放的挥发物引诱菜蛾绒茧蜂。小菜蛾性信息素基本成分是顺 -1 1 -十六碳烯醛和顺 -1 1 -十六碳烯乙酸酯。当顺 -1 1 -十六碳烯醛、顺 -1 1 -十六碳烯乙酸酯和顺 -1 1 -十六碳烯醇以 5∶5∶0 1或顺 -1 1 -十六碳烯醛、顺 -1 1 -十六碳烯乙酸酯、顺 -1 1 -十六碳烯醇和顺 -9-十四碳烯乙酸酯按70∶3 0∶1∶0 0 1比例制成的诱芯诱蛾效果较好。宜深入探究寄主植物—小菜蛾—菜蛾绒茧蜂间的通讯机制 ,开发高效诱芯。     

松瘿小卷蛾及其寄生蜂对落叶松挥发物的嗅觉行为反应

为确定松瘿小卷蛾（Cydia zebeana）对寄主的定位习性,以及探讨对其的综合防治方法,通过Y型管嗅觉仪行为选择实验,分析松瘿小卷蛾及其两种寄生性天敌小卷蛾革腹茧蜂（Ascogaster olethreuti）和卷蛾长体茧蜂（Macrocentrus sp.）对寄主兴安落叶松（Larix gmelinii）的9种不同浓度挥发物的行为反应。结果表明,对雌蛾产生引诱作用的挥发物为3-蒈烯、水芹烯,产生驱避作用的挥发物为月桂烯、罗勒烯、莰烯;（R）-α-蒎烯表现为低浓度引诱高浓度驱避。对雄蛾产生引诱作用的挥发物为（S）-β-蒎烯,产生驱避作用的挥发物为月桂烯、3-蒈烯、（S）-α-蒎烯、莰烯。对小卷蛾革腹茧蜂有引诱作用的挥发物为（S）-β-蒎烯、（S）-α-蒎烯、叶醇,产生驱避作用的挥发物为罗勒烯、莰烯、水芹烯;对卷蛾长体茧蜂有引诱作用的挥发物为（S）-β-蒎烯、（S）-α-蒎烯、（R）-α-蒎烯、叶醇,产生驱避作用的挥发物为罗勒烯、水芹烯。说明在利用推拉策略防控松瘿小卷蛾时,月桂烯、叶醇和（S）-α-蒎烯可用于保护目标林,驱避害虫吸引天敌;水芹烯可以结合化学防治施用于饵木林,诱杀害虫而驱避寄生蜂。     

取食不同寄主植物小菜蛾对氯虫苯甲酰胺敏感性及体内解毒酶活性的变化

为探明寄主植物影响小菜蛾Plutella xylostella L.抗药性的内在因素,本研究以小菜蛾嗜好性不同的菜心(Brassica parachinensis)、芥菜(B.juncea)、白菜(B.chinensis)和芥蓝(B.alboglabra)4种寄主植物为材料,利用生物测定和解毒酶活力测定的方法,研究了取食不同寄主植物的小菜蛾幼虫对氯虫苯甲酰胺敏感性及体内解毒酶活力变化情况。结果表明,4种寄主植物饲养小菜蛾5代后,其敏感性分别为菜心>芥菜>白菜>芥蓝,且其体内活性酶谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GSTs)、羧酸酯酶(CarE)比活力差异显著(P<0.05),活性的强弱与其敏感性相一致。以取食芥蓝的小菜蛾体内2种解毒酶活性最强。说明寄主植物能影响小菜蛾药剂敏感性及解毒酶活性。试验结果对小菜蛾的综合防控及抗氯虫苯甲酰胺机理研究具有重要的参考价值。     

B型烟粉虱对三种寄主植物及其挥发物的行为反应

利用Y型嗅觉仪,测定了B型烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci（Gennadius）雌虫对3种寄主植物、挥发物提取液、挥发物标样以及寄主植物挥发物模拟样的行为反应,并比较鉴定寄主植物挥发物的组分和含量,以期明确植物挥发物在B型烟粉虱寄主定向行为中的作用。结果表明：1）番茄植株和甘蓝植株及其相应的挥发物提取物对烟粉虱雌成虫均具有显著的引诱作用,而辣椒植株和挥发物提取物的引诱作用不明显;3种寄主植物和挥发物提取物分别两两之间比较时,烟粉虱的选择行为均极显著地表现为番茄 > 甘蓝 > 辣椒。2）番茄、甘蓝和辣椒具有不同的挥发物化学图谱,且挥发物组分的相对百分含量差异很大;番茄挥发物总量远远大于甘蓝和辣椒;从组分来看,番茄挥发物中主要为萜烯类（89.8%）,甘蓝挥发物中主要为烷烃类（53.0%）。3）8种寄主植物挥发物标样（10-¹～10^-6 μL/μL）中,除1,8-桉树脑始终对烟粉虱具有引诱作用外,丁子香酚、苎烯、里那醇和月桂烯则是分别在10^-4～10^-6,10^-1～10^-4,10^-1～10^-4和10^-1～10^-4μL/μL时,才具有引诱作用;α-蒎烯、顺-3-已烯-1醇则在高浓度下（10^-1和10^-2 μL/μL）对烟粉虱具有排斥作用,低浓度下对烟粉虱没有任何影响;正十二烷在任何浓度下对烟粉虱均没有任何作用。4）在辣椒上分别喷施番茄挥发物模拟样和甘蓝挥发物模拟样,均显著增加对烟粉虱的引诱作用,而在番茄上喷施辣椒挥发物模拟样则无明显增效作用。综合分析认为,挥发性物质在B型烟粉虱对不同寄主植物的选择偏好时具有重要的行为导向作用。     

赤眼蜂田间混合种群的分离、鉴定及其性比的确定

介绍了一种适用于赤眼蜂Trichogramma田间混合种群分离、鉴定及性比确定的简单而有效的方法,并据此方法成功地鉴定出4种自然寄生于小菜蛾卵的寄生蜂种类,拟澳洲赤眼蜂TrichogrammaconfusumViggiani、玉米螟赤眼蜂Trichogramma.ostriniaePangetChen、微突赤眼蜂TrichogrammaraioNagaraja及卷蛾分索赤眼蜂TrichogrammatoideabactraeNagaraja。     

11种不同类型杀虫剂对卷蛾分索赤眼蜂繁殖的亚致死效应

在实验室条件下通过药膜法研究了11种不同类型的杀虫剂对卷蛾分索赤眼蜂Trichogrammatoidea bactrae Nagaraja成蜂的毒性, 并研究了杀虫剂对其繁殖的亚致死效应, 旨在评估各药剂对卷蛾分索赤眼蜂成蜂的安全性, 为小菜蛾Plutella xylostella防治过程中杀虫剂的合理施用提供科学依据。研究结果表明, 卷蛾分索赤眼蜂成蜂对阿维菌素最敏感, 致死中浓度LC₅₀和亚致死浓度LC₃₀分别为0.1984和0.1660 mg/L, 其次为氟虫腈（0.2027和0.1903 mg/L）、溴虫腈（0.3069和0.2038 mg/L）、多杀霉素（1.3630和1.0481 mg/L）、杀螟丹（8.1042 和6.7891 mg/L）、高效氯氰菊酯（10.3647和5.8035 mg/L）和丁醚脲（11.5318 和9.9212 mg/L）。经亚致死浓度LC₃₀的阿维菌素、溴虫腈、杀螟丹、丁醚脲、多杀霉素和氟虫腈处理后, 卷蛾分索赤眼蜂的寿命（1.00~1.67 d）显著缩短, 寄生卵量（0~21.70粒/雌）明显降低, 种群参数（净生殖力R₀、内禀增长率r_m、周限增长率λ和世代平均历期T）明显低于对照（P<0.05）。田间推荐浓度的茚虫威、氟啶脲、苏云金杆菌Bacillus thuringiensis、虫酰肼对卷蛾分索赤眼蜂寿命及产卵量均没有不利影响, 但能通过缩短其世代平均历期T, 从而使净生殖力R₀、内禀增长率r_m和周限增长率λ增加。而经亚致死浓度LC₃₀的高效氯氰菊酯处理后, 卷蛾分索赤眼蜂的寿命（3.77 d）显著延长, 寄生卵量（55.47粒/雌）明显提高, 种群参数明显高于对照(P<0.05)。结果说明, 氟啶脲、茚虫威、苏云金杆菌和虫酰肼对卷蛾分索赤眼蜂较安全; 丁醚脲对卷蛾分索赤眼蜂成蜂的寄生能力影响极大, 在田间施用时应当尽量避开卷蛾分索赤眼蜂成蜂的盛发期。     

Prey-predator relationship between Lipaphis erysimi Kalt. (Hom., Aphididae) and Coccinella septempunctata L. (Col., Coccinellidae). II. Effect of host plants on the functional response of the predator

The present paper examines the effect of the host plants Brassica oleracea, Raphanus sativus and Brassica campestris on which Lipaphis erysimi was reared, on the functional response of the grub of Coccinella septempunctata . The functional response of the grub of C. septempunctata is of type II. The amount of prey consumption increases significantly with the increase of prey density and is maximum in B. oleracea- reared aphids, followed by those reared on R. sativus and B. campestris . The percentage prey consumption declined throughout. This decrease was a maximum for aphids reared on B. campestris followed by R. sativus - and B. oleracea -reared aphids. Analysis of variance also confirmed that the number and percentage prey consumption was significantly influenced between the three host plants and between 12 prey densities. Results show that C. septempunctata has a greater liking for aphids reared on B. oleracea rather than those reared on the other plants that were tested.     

The CACTA transposon Bot1 played a major role in Brassica genome divergence and gene proliferation

We isolated and characterized a Brassica C genome-specific CACTA element, which was designated Bot1 (Brassica oleracea transposon 1). After analysing phylogenetic relationships, copy numbers and sequence similarity of Bot1 and Bot1 analogues in B. oleracea (C genome) versus Brassica rapa (A genome), we concluded that Bot1 has encountered several rounds of amplification in the oleracea genome only, and has played a major role in the recent rapa and oleracea genome divergence. We performed in silico analyses of the genomic organization and internal structure of Bot1, and established which segment of Bot1 is C-genome specific. Our work reports a fully characterized Brassica repetitive sequence that can distinguish the Brassica A and C chromosomes in the allotetraploid Brassica napus, by fluorescent in situ hybridization. We demonstrated that Bot1 carries a host S locus-associated SLL3 gene copy. We speculate that Bot1 was involved in the proliferation of SLL3 around the Brassica genome. The present study reinforces the assumption that transposons are a major driver of genome and gene evolution in higher plants.     

Influence of various host plants on the consumption and utilization of food by Pieris brassicae (Linn.)

Pieris brassicae (Linn.) is a destructive cosmopolitan pest of cruciferous crops. It is present wherever its host plants occur, and it is considered to be one of the most widely distributed of all the Lepidoptera. We investigated the affect of various host plants on the food consumption and utilization by P. brassicae. We quantified consumption of food, larval duration, pupal duration and weight on cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis), radish (Raphanus sativus), broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) and mustard (Brassica campestris) under laboratory conditions. Insect-host relationships can be better understood by knowing the rate of food consumption, its digestibility and conversion of food eaten to body tissue. The consumption of food generally increased with the advancement of larval age. In our study we found that consumption of food was highest on radish and lowest on broccoli. The highest consumption of a particular host does not always indicate greater suitability of that host, until and unless other factors like consumption index (CI), relative growth rate (RGR), efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI), approximate digestibility (AD) and efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) are also considered. In the current investigation, factors like CI, RGR, ECI and ECD were highest on cabbage. Low body weight of pupa is associated with rapid development. On cabbage, the weight of pupa of both sexes was found lowest. Thus, from the present study, it can be concluded that cabbage is a more suitable host for P. brassicae than other host plants evaluated. Hence, on cabbage, the values of Waldbauer indices were highest and P. brassicae developed with a faster rate.     

The role of spatial scale and intraspecific variation in secondary chemistry in host-plant location by Ceutorhynchus assimilis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

To understand the ecological role of secondary plant compounds in host location by phytophagous insects it is important to consider attraction at different scales in natural populations. The cabbage seed weevil, Ceutorhynchus assimilis, which lays eggs in pods of crucifers where the larvae feed on seed, is attracted to purified extracts of specific glucosinolate-derived volatiles. We considered the possibility that C. assimilis adults are attracted to and preferentially attack patches of plants and/or individual plants producing these volatiles. Using discrete natural populations of Brassica oleracea and Brassica nigra, we found that oviposition was highest in populations of B. oleracea producing high amounts of 3-butenylglucosinolate. No links were found between the other glucosinolates, 2-propenylglucosinolate, 2-hydroxy-3-butenylglucosinolate, 1-indolylmethylglucosinolate or 1-methoxy-3-indolylmethylglucosinolate, and oviposition in B. oleracea. B. nigra, which contains only 2-propenylglucosinolate, was not attacked by C. assimilis. Within populations of B. oleracea, neither oviposition nor the number of seeds eaten was related to the glucosinolate profiles of individual plants. We suggest that C. assimilis adults use 3-butenylglucosinolate-derived volatiles to locate host populations, whereas other cues determine oviposition on individual plants. The consequences of these results for natural selection of glucosinolate phenotypes are discussed.     

上海地区芸薹属蔬菜遗传多样性研究

利用SSR分子标记分析和农艺性状鉴定对上海地区的17份甘蓝、44份白菜,共61份芸薹属蔬菜进行遗传多样性评价。UPGMA聚类结果显示,61份材料被聚类为两大类,甘蓝类和白菜类,其中白菜型蔬菜品种的相似系数在0．96～0．77之间,甘蓝型蔬菜品种的相似系数在0．93～0．63之间。聚类分析的结果说明,上海地区的甘蓝类蔬菜遗传多样性比较丰富,而白菜类蔬菜的遗传基础比较单一,急需保护现有的白菜型蔬菜品种的种质资源,防止遗传流失。本实验还说明通过SSR分子标记技术与农艺性状鉴定相结合,综合评价芸薹属蔬菜的遗传多样性比采用单一的方法更加准确有效。     

南美斑潜蝇寄主选择性与植物营养物质及叶绿素含量的关系

采用非自由选择法,在室内研究了南美斑潜蝇寄主选择性及其与植物叶片营养物质和叶绿素含量的关系.结果表明,南美斑潜蝇成虫对不同供试植物的选择性存在显著差异,选择性最强的为菜豆、茼蒿和西葫芦,最差的为番茄和甘蓝.相关分析表明,南美斑潜蝇成虫寄主选择性与叶片可溶性糖含量存在显著的正相关关系(R＝0.5014,P=0.0174,F＝6.717),而与叶片可溶性蛋白和叶绿素含量相关关系不显著.     

Time allocation of a parasitoid foraging in heterogeneous vegetation: implications for host-parasitoid interactions

1. Changing plant composition in a community can have profound consequences for herbivore and parasitoid population dynamics. To understand such effects, studies are needed that unravel the underlying behavioural decisions determining the responses of parasitoids to complex habitats. 2. The searching behaviour of the parasitoid Diadegma semiclausum was followed in environments with different plant species composition. In the middle of these environments, two Brassica oleracea plants infested by the host Plutella xylostella were placed. The control set-up contained B. oleracea plants only. In the more complex set-ups, B. oleracea plants were interspersed by either Sinapis alba or Hordeum vulgare. 3. Parasitoids did not find the first host-infested plant with the same speed in the different environments. Sinapis alba plants were preferentially searched by parasitoids, resulting in fewer initial host encounters, possibly creating a dynamic enemy-free space for the host on adjacent B. oleracea plants. In set-ups with H. vulgare, also, fewer initial host encounters were found, but in this case plant structure was more likely than infochemicals to interfere with the searching behaviour of parasitoids. 4. On discovering a host-infested plant, parasitoids located the second host-infested plant with equal speed, demonstrating the effect of experience on time allocation. Further encounters with host-infested plants that had already been visited decreased residence times and increased the tendency to leave the environment. 5. Due to the intensive search of S. alba plants, hosts were encountered at lower rates here than in the other set-ups. However, because parasitoids left the set-up with S. alba last, the same number of hosts were encountered as in the other treatments. 6. Plant composition of a community influences the distribution of parasitoid attacks via its effects on arrival and leaving tendencies. Foraging experiences can reduce or increase the importance of enemy-free space for hosts on less attractive plants.     

Chlororespiration is involved in the adaptation of Brassica plants to heat and high light intensity

Two species of Brassica were used to study their acclimation to heat and high illumination during the first stages of development. One, Brassica fruticulosa, is a wild species from south-east Spain and is adapted to both heat and high light intensity in its natural habitat, while the other, Brassica oleracea, is an agricultural species that is widely cultivated throughout the world. Growing Brassica plants under high irradiance and moderate heat was seen to affect the growth parameters and the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus. The photosystem II (PSII) quantum yields and the capacity of photosynthetic electron transport, which were lower in B. fruticulosa than in B. oleracea, decreased in B. oleracea plants when grown under stress conditions, indicating inhibition of PSII. However, in B. fruticulosa, the values of these parameters were similar to the values of control plants. Photosystem I (PSI) activity was higher in B. fruticulosa than in B. oleracea, and in both species this activity increased in plants exposed to heat and high illumination. Immunoblot analysis of thylakoid membranes using specific antibodies raised against the NDH-K subunit of the thylakoidal NADH dehydrogenase complex (NADH DH) and against plastid terminal oxidase (PTOX) revealed a higher amount of both proteins in B. fruticulosa than in B. oleracea. In addition, PTOX activity in plastoquinone oxidation, and NADH DH activity in thylakoid membranes were higher in the wild species (B. fruticulosa) than in the agricultural species (B. oleracea). The results indicate that tolerance to high illumination and heat of the photosynthetic activity was higher in the wild species than in the agricultural species, suggesting that plant adaptation to these stresses in natural conditions favours subsequent acclimation, and that the chlororespiration process is involved in adaptation to heat and high illumination in Brassica.     

Consequences of constitutive and induced variation in the host's food plant quality for parasitoid larval development

Constitutive and induced changes in plant quality impact higher trophic levels, such as the development of parasitoids, in different ways. An efficient way to study how plant quality affects parasitoids is to examine how the parasitoid larva is integrated within the host during the growth process. In two experiments, we investigated the effects of varying nutritional quality of Brassica oleracea on parasitoid larval development inside the host, the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella). First, we compared larval growth of the specialist Diadegma semiclausum and the generalist Diadegma fenestrale, when the host was feeding on Brussels sprout plants that were either undamaged or were previously induced by caterpillar damage. Larvae of the generalist D. fenestrale showed lower growth rates than larvae of the specialist D. semiclausum, and this difference was more pronounced on herbivore-induced plants, suggesting differences in host-use efficiency between parasitoid species. The growth of D. semiclausum larvae was also analyzed in relation to herbivore induction on Brussels sprouts and on a wild B. oleracea strain. Parasitoid growth was more depressed on induced than on undamaged control plants, and more on wild cabbage than on Brussels sprouts, which was largely explained by differences in host mass. The effects of induction of wild Brassica on parasitoid development were pronounced early on, but as P. xylostella feeding began inducing the previously undamaged control plants, the effect of induction disappeared, revealing a temporal component of plant-parasitoid interactions. This study demonstrates how insights into the physiological aspects of host-parasitoid interactions can improve our understanding of the effects of plant-related traits on parasitoid wasps.     

Manipulating the attractiveness and suitability of hosts for diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Ovipositional preference and larval survival of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), were compared among cabbage, Brassica oleracea L. variety capitata; glossy collards, Brassica oleracea L. variety acephala; and yellow rocket, Barbarea vulgaris (R. Br.) variety arcuata in different treatments of planting density, host plant age, intercropping, and water stress in 2003 and 2004. P. xylostella laid nearly twice as many eggs per plant in the high planting densities of glossy collards and yellow rocket than in the standard planting densities. Ovipositional preference was positively correlated with plant age in cabbage, glossy collards, and yellow rocket. Larval survival on cabbage was 1.9 times higher on 6-wk than on 12-wk-old plants, whereas larval survival on collards was 12.1 times higher on the younger plants. No larvae survived on either 6- or 12-wk-old yellow rocket plants. Intercropping cabbage with either tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., or fava bean, Vicia fava L., did not reduce the number of eggs laid on cabbage. No significant differences in oviposition were found between water-stressed and well-irrigated host plants treatments. Yet, P. xylostella larval survival on water-stressed cabbage was 2.1 times lower than on well-irrigated cabbage plants. Based on our findings, the effectiveness of trap crops of glossy collards and yellow rocket could be enhanced by integrating the use of higher planting densities in the trap crop than in the main crop and seeding of the trap crop earlier than the main crop.