Feeding performance of Spodoptera litura on different cotton cultivars

Studies on food utilization by Spodoptera litura indicated that ingestion and egestion of larvae were maximum on cotton cultivars Surabhi, LRA5166 and MCU12 followed by SVPR3 and Sumangala cultivars and minimum on SVPR2 and MCU5 cultivars. Feeding on SVPR 2, MCU 5 and Sumangala cultivars resulted in less gain of weight of the larvae as compared to LRA5166, Surabhi, SVPR 3 and MCU 12 cultivars. The Carbohydrate content was maximum in LRA5166 cotton (84.13 mg/g), protein (20.85 mg/g) in Surabhi, lipid (44.32 mg/g) in Sumangala and phenol in SVPR2 and Sumangala (10.19–10.47 mg/g), respectively. Feeding and growth parameters were positively correlated to carbohydrate, protein and water content of the host plants, however, food utilization parameters showed negative correlation with lipid and phenolic content of the host plants.