Role of different cations and anions of HMW salt mixture in artificial diets on growth and development of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)

The effect of cations and anions of HMW salt mixture for their role on the growth and development of maggots of Bactrocera dorsalis, studied through deletion method, revealed that potassium among seven cations (Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, K, and Na) and iodide, sulphate and chloride among anions (CO3, SO4, PO4, I, F and Cl) were found as the most essential ingredients of an artificial diet for normal growth and development of B. dorsalis. A diet devoid of potassium showed prolonged maggot period (25.15 days), pupal period (16.10 days) and reduced pupal weight (6.92 mg), pupal formation (1.66%), nil adult emergence and lowest growth index (0.07) against the maximum (3.50) in the control. The low pupal period (8.62 days) in the diet without manganese and high pupal formation (50%) in the diet without calcium were observed. The diet devoid of chloride showed no maggot emergence, pupal formation and adult emergence while that without iodide showed pro-longed maggot period of 23.75 and 23.66 days, respectively. The control showed the shortest pupal period (9.75 days) and the highest pupal weight (12.08 mg). The pupal formation was high in the diet without CO3 (61.70%) and PO4 (61.70 %). The overall growth index was high in control (3.60) followed by the diet without CO₃.