Developmental Response of <i>Pieris brassicae</i> (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) on Different Cauliflower Cultivars under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

Cauliflower is popular vegetable in Pakistan and it is severely attacked by Pieris brassicae (L) . There are different cauliflower cultivars available in this area. The aim of this study was to determine the developmental response of Pieris brassicae on ten cauliflower cultivars. An experiment was conducted during 2012-13 at the Entomology section of the Agriculture Research Institute Tarnab Peshawar under laboratory conditions of 20 &deg C ± 2 &deg C, 50% ± 5% RH and 12:12h photoperiod. Pieris brassicae eggs were collected from a cauliflower field ARI Tarnab and the larvae placed after hatching on fresh leaves often cauliflower cultivars. The results showed that the larval development of P. brassicae was short (35 days), longer larval length (32.41 mm), larval mortality was low (6.6%) and pupal weight was high (0.50 g) on Clima cultivar. On the other hand, a longer larval developmental period (37 days), higher larval mortality (86.66%), shorter larval length (24.55 mm) and lower pupal weight (0.42 g) were recorded on cultivar AX-2034.