Influence of transgenic cotton cultivars on growth and development of Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders)
Abstract
The reinvasion of pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella has imposed threats in cultivation of Bt cotton in India. The information on life cycle of P gossypiella on various transgenic cotton cultivars grown widely under Punjab conditions is lacking. Therefore, present research on four BG II cotton cultivars namely, Ankur Jassi, MRC 9024, RCH 776, SP 7172; two Bt cotton varieties namely, PAU Bt 2, PAU Bt 3 and non-Bt cotton variety, F 2228 was carried out. The mean larval span was significantly lower on BG II cotton cultivars and higher on non-Bt cotton cultivar. Larval and pupal weight, larval and pupal survival was higher on non-Bt cotton in comparison to BG II cotton cultivars. Except for fecundity, BG II cotton has significant detrimental effect on other vital parameters of . P gossypiella. Overall, it can be concluded that BG II cotton cultivars namely, Ankur Jassi and MRC 9024 have most detrimental effect on various biological parameters of P. gossypiella and these cultivars can be recommended for cultivation under Punjab condition in integration with other management tactics.
Keywords
Pectinophora gossypiella, BG II cotton, Non-Bt cotton, Life cycle
