Biology of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on 10 commercial hybrids of corn in laboratory condition

Beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua is apolyphagous insect pest that damages several field cropsincluding: corn, cotton, sugerbeet, tomato, celery, lettuce and alfalfa efc. The biological property studiesof the pest on different cultivars of crop plant species could be useful in determining resistant cultivar. Inpresent study the biological property of the pest were investigated on 10 corn hybrids (SC700, DC370,SC704, SC260, SC500, Keynes540, Keynes410, KSC260, KSC400 and KSC301). In the laboratorycondition (25±1 oC, 65±5% RH, and 16:8 h L:D) in a completely randomized design. The result showedthat there were significant differences among the hybrids whit respect to the larval growth period, pupalperiod, daily oviposition, total fecundity, growth index, and percent mortality. The highest larval andpupal developmental time, longevity and pre-adult period were observed on SC500 (29.55, 14.33 and46.75 days) and SC260 (39.50 days), respectively. The shrtest longevity and the lowest percent mortalitywere observed on Keynes540. The lowest growth index in the pupal stage (2.05) and the highest percentmortalities in larval and pupal stages were observed on hybrid SC700. Therefore, it was concluded thatSC700 was relatively resistant to the S. exigua in comparison with other hybrids that were studied in thisresearch.

کلیدواژه ها:

Spodoptera exigua ، biological property ، hybrids of corn