Impact of ozone and carbon dioxide on growth and development of Chilo partellus swinhoe (maize stalk borer)

In present study impact of different ozone (O₃) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels on growth and development of Chilo partellus on maize (var. HQPM 1) grown in Open top Chambers (OTC) was studied. treatments provided to maize were- ambient air (chamber less plots) having 12–72 ppb O₃ and 370–385 ppm of CO₂-(AO₃+ ACO₂); Non Filtered air having 5–10% less O₃ concentration than ambient-(NF); Charcoal filtered air having 80–85% less O₃ concentration than ambient -(CF); Elevated O₃ treatment having ambient O₃+25–30 ppb -(EO₃); Elevated CO₂ (500 ± 50 ppm) and non filtered air having 5–10% less O₃ concentration than ambient – (ECO₂+ AO₃); Elevated CO₂(500 ± 50 ppm) and EO₃(ambient + 25–30 ppb) – (ECO₂+ EO₃) It was observed that increase in O₃ concentration decreased the mean body weight of larvae (r² = 0.52). Mean body weight of larvae was 62% more and 65% less for those which feeded on maize plants exposed to ECO₂+ AO₃ and ECO₂+ EO₃ respectively as compared to larvae provided with plants exposed to NF air. Development of male and female adults from pupae was observed only from larvae isolated from AO₃ + ACO₂ and EO₃+ ECO₂ treated plants.