Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-r5zm4 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-02T05:39:48.725Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of nitrogen fertilizer application to maize and sorghum on the bionomics of Chilo partellus (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and the performance of its larval parasitoid Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

N. Jiang  and
F. Schulthess
N. Jiang*
Affiliation:
Stemborer Biological Control Project, International Centre of Insect Ecology and Physiology, PO Box 30772 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
F. Schulthess
Affiliation:
Stemborer Biological Control Project, International Centre of Insect Ecology and Physiology, PO Box 30772 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
*
*Fax: +254 208632000 E-mail: njiang@icipe.org
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Laboratory and field trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of plant species (maize, sorghum), plant age (young, middle, old) and four different nitrogen fertilization levels (N0–N3) on the bionomics of the invasive crambid Chilo partellus and the performance of its braconid larval parasitoid Cotesia flavipes. Plant N varied significantly between N0 and N1–N3, but the differences among the latter were not significant. Intrinsic rates of increase and net-reproductive rates of C. partellus followed the same trends: they were lowest with N0 and similar among the other treatments. On maize only, mortality of C. partellus and parasitism by C. flavipes tended to decrease with age of the plant while the percentage of borers reaching adulthood (i.e. pupation) increased. Borer mortality and parasitism was lower and pupation higher on sorghum than on maize. On both host plants, percent dry matter content of frass, which could affect ingress of the parasitoid into the borer tunnel, did not vary with nitrogen level but varied with age of the host plants: on maize, it was highest on young plants and on sorghum on old plants. Tunnels were shorter on young maize and sorghum plants; longer tunnels on older plants indicated compensatory feeding by the larva as a result of lower nutritive value of the food source. Consequently, larval weight was lower on older than younger plants. The level of nitrogen fertilization had no effect on food conversion efficiency of C. partellus. Nitrogen did not affect number of C. flavipes progeny while egg load of progeny increased significantly with nitrogen level, on both plant species. Differences in egg load between sorghum and maize were mostly not significant. It was concluded that on depleted soils only, an increase in nitrogen via mulching, rotation with a leguminous crop or fertilization would increase survival of C. partellus on both maize and sorghum and an increase in acreage of maize and in application of nitrogen fertilizer in an area would also increase the parasitism of C. flavipes.

Keywords

maizesorghumChilo partellusCotesia flavipesnitrogenplant agebionomicsfrasstunnel
Type
Research Article
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 95 , Issue 6 , December 2005 , pp. 495 - 504
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bergvinson, D.J., Arnason, J.T., Mihm, J.A., Jewell, D.C. & Mihm, J.A. (1997a) Phytochemical basis for multiple borer resistance in maize. pp. 82–90 in Insect resistant maize: recent advances and utilization. Proceedings of an International Symposium held at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center,27 November-3 December 1994.Google Scholar
Bergvinson, D.J., Arnason, J.T. & Hamilton, R.I. (1997b) Phytochemical changes during recurrent selection for resistance to the European corn borer. Crop Science 37, 1567–1572.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bernays, E.A. & Barbehenn, R. (1987) Nutritional ecology of grass foliage chewing insects. pp. 147–175in Slansky, Jr. F. & Rodriguez, J.G. (Eds) Nutritional ecology of insects, mites, spiders and related invertrebrates. New York, John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Bonato, O., Schulthess, F. & Baumgaertner, J.U. (1999) A simulation model for carbon and nitrogen allocation and acquisition in maize. Ecological Modelling 124, 11–28CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chabi-Olaye, A., Nolte, C., Schulthess, F. & Borgemeister, C. (2005a) Abundance, dispersion and parasitism of the noctuid stem borer Busseola fusca (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in maize in the humid forest zone of southern Cameroon. Bulletin of Entomological Research 95, 169–177CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chabi-Olaye, A., Nolte, C., Schulthess, F. & Borgemeister, C. (2005b) Effects of grain legumes and cover crops on maize yield and plant damage by Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the humid forest of southern Cameroon. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Enviroment 108, 17–28CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Denké, D., Schulthess, F., Bonato, O., Gounou, S. & Smith, H. (2000) Effet de la fumure en potassium sur le développement, la survie et la fécondité de Sesamia calamistis Hampson et de Eldana saccharina Walker sur Maïs. Insect Science and its Application 20, 151–156Google Scholar
Fischer, F.L. & Smith, O.E. (1960) The influence of nutrient balance on yield and lodging of Texas hybrid corn. Agronomy Journal 52, 201–204Google Scholar
Fischer, K.S. & Palmer, A.F.E. (1984) Tropical maize. pp. 213–248 in Goldsworthy, P., Fisher, N.M. (Eds) The physiology of tropical field crops. New York, John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Fox, L.R., Letourneau, D.K., Eisenbach, J., Nouhuy, S., van, . & van Nouhuys, S. (1990) Parasitism rates and sex ratios of a parasitoid wasp: effects of herbivore and plant quality. Oecologia 83, 414–419CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hailemichael, Y. (1998) Comparative evaluation of Cotesia chilonis, Cotesia flavipes and Cotesia sesamiae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) as potential biological control agents against gramineous stemborers in West Africa. 156 pp. PhD dissertation, Texas A&M University.Google Scholar
Hulting, F.L. (1990) A computer program for calculation and statistical comparison of intrinsic rates of increase and associated life table parameters. Florida Entomologist 73, 601–612Google Scholar
Janssen, J.A.M. (1993) Effects of the mineral composition and water content of intact plants on the fitness of the African armyworm. Oecologia 95, 401–409CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jiang, N., Sétamou, M., Ngi-Song, A. & Omwega, C. (2004) Performance of Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in parasitizing Chilo partellus (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) as affected by temperature and host stage. Biological Control 31, 155–164CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kaneshiro, L.N. & Johnson, M.W. (1996) Tritrophic effects of leaf nitrogen on Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) and an associated parasitoid Chrysocharis oscinidis (Ashmead) on bean. Biological Control 6, 186–192Google Scholar
Kingsolver, J.G. & Woods, H.A. (1998) Interactions of temperature and dietary protein concentration in growth and feeding of Manduca sexta caterpillars. Physiological Entomology 23, 354–359Google Scholar
Mathez, F.C. (1972) Chilo partellus Swinh., C. orichalcociliella Strand (Lep., Crambidae) and Sesamia calamistis Hmps. (Lep., Noctuidae) on maize in the coast province, Kenya. Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft 45, 267–289Google Scholar
Ndemah, R. (1999) Towards developing an integrated crop management strategy for the African stalk borer, Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in maize systems in Cameroon. 136 pp. PhD thesis, Hannover University, Faculty of Horticulture, Institute of Plant Diseases and Plant Protection, Germany. www.gartenbau.uni-hannover.de/ipp/ipp/Projekte/Entomologie/alteProjekte/ndemah/ndemah.htmlGoogle Scholar
Nye, I.W.B. (1960) The insect pests of graminaceous crops in East Africa. Colonial Reserach studies No. 31. London.Google Scholar
Ochieng, R.S., Onyango, F.O. & Bungu, M.D.O. (1985) Improvement of techniques for mass culture of Chilo partellus (Swinhoe). Insect Science and its Application 6, 425–428Google Scholar
Overholt, W.A., Ngi-Song, A.J., Kimani, S.W., Mbapila, J., Lammers, P.M. & Kioko, E. (1994a) Ecological considerations of the introduction of Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) for biological control of Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Africa. Biocontrol News and Information 15, 19–24Google Scholar
Overholt, W.A., Ochieng, J.O., Lammers, P.M. & Ogedah, K. (1994b) Rearing and field release methods for Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of tropical gramineous stemborers. Insect Science and its Application 15, 253–259Google Scholar
Overholt, W.A., Ngi-Song, A.J., Omwega, C.O., Kiman, Njogu S.W., Mbapila, J., Sallam, M.N. & Ofomata, V.C. (1997) A review of the introduction and establishment of Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in East Africa for biological control of cereal stemborers. Insect Science and its Application 17, 79–95Google Scholar
Panda, N., Pradhan, B., Samalo, A.P. & Rao, P.S.P. (1975) Note on the relationship of some biochemical factors with the resistance in rice varieties to yellow rice borer. Indian Journal of Agricultural Science 45, 499–501Google Scholar
Parry, W.H., Kelly, J.M. & McKillop, A.R. (1990) The role of nitrogen in the feeding strategy of Strophosomus melanogrammus (Forster) (Col., Curculionidae) in a mixed woodland habitat. Journal of Applied Entomology 109, 367–376CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peacock, J.M. & Wilson, G.L. (1984) Sorghum The physiology of tropical field crops 249–279Goldsworthy, P., Fisher, N.M, (Eds) New York: John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Perrenoud, S. (1990) Potassium and plant health. pp. 365 International Potash Institute Research Topics No. 3.Google Scholar
Potting, R.P.J., Osae-Danso, F., Overholt, W.A. & Ngi-Song, A.J. (1993) Host selection in Cotesia flavipes, parasitoid of tropical stemborers. Proceedings of Experimental and Applied Entomology 4, 47–52Google Scholar
Price, P.W. (1997) Insect ecology. 3rd edn. 888 pp. New York, John Wiley and Sons, IncGoogle Scholar
SAS Institute (2000) Users' guide: Statistics, release, 8.0 ed. SAS Institute Cary, North Carolina.Google Scholar
Sasamoto, K. (1961) Resistance of the rice plant applied with silicate and nitrogenous fertilizers to the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis Walker. Proceedings of the Faculty of Liberal Arts Education 3Yamanashi University, Japan, 73 pp.Google Scholar
Schulthess, F., Chabi-Olaye, A. & Gounou, S. (2004) Multi-trophic level interactions in a cassava–maize relay cropping system in the humid tropics of West Africa. Bulletin of Entomological Research 94, 261–272CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sétamou, M. & Schulthess, F. (1995) The influence of egg parasitoids belonging to the Telenomus busseolae (Hym.: Scelionidae) species complex on Sesamia calamistis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) populations in maize fields in southern Benin. Biocontrol Science and Technology 5, 69–81CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sétamou, M., Jiang, N. & Schulthess, F. (2005) Effect of different host plants on the survivorship of Chilo partellus and performance of its larval parasitoid Cotesia flavipes. Biological Control 32, 183–190Google Scholar
Sétamou, M., Schulthess, F., Bosque-Pérez, N.A. & Thomas-Odjo, A. (1993) Effect of plant nitrogen and silica on the bionomics of Sesamia calamistis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 83, 405–411Google Scholar
Sétamou, M., Schulthess, F., Bosque-Pérez, N.A. & Thomas-Odjo, N. (1995) The effect of stem and cob borers on maize subjected to different nitrogen treatments. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 77, 205–210Google Scholar
Simpson, J.M. & Simpson, C.L. (1990) The mechanisms of nutritional compensation by phytophagous insects. pp. 111–160in Bernays, E.A. (Ed.) Insect-plant interactions. Boca Raton, Florida CRC Press.Google Scholar
Singh, T.P. & Singh, R. (1969) Incidence of stem borer (Chilo zonellus Swinhoe) and lodging in Jaunpur variety of maize under different fertility levels of nitrogen. Indian Journal of Entomology 31, 158–160Google Scholar
Slanksy, F.J. (1993) Nutritional ecology: the fundamental quest for nutrients. pp. 478–508 in Stamp, N.E. & Casey, T.M. (Eds) Caterpillars. Ecological and evolutionary constraints on foraging. New York, Chapman and HallGoogle Scholar
Smith, J.W. Jr., Wiedenmann, R.N. & Overholt, W.A. (1993) Parasites of lepidopteran stemborers of tropical gramineous plants. pp. 89Nairobi, ICIPE Science Press.Google Scholar
Takasu, K. & Overholt, A. (1997) Aggressive behaviour of Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) larvae against the parasitoid, Cotesia flavipes Cameron. Insect Science and its Application 17, 131–136Google Scholar
Tams, W.H.T. (1932) New species of African Heterocera. Entomologist 65, 1241–1249Google Scholar
Trolldenier, G.A. & Zehler, E. (1976) Relationships between plant nutrition and rice diseases. Fertilizer use and plant health. Proceedings of the 12th Colloquium of the International Potash Institute, Bern, 85–93.Google Scholar
Zar, J.H. (1999) Biostatistical analysis. 4th edn. 663 pp. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey Prentice Hall, Inc.Google Scholar
Zhou, G., Baumgartner, J. & Overholt, W.A. (2001) Impact assessment of an exotic parasitoid on stemborer (Lepidoptera) population dynamics in Kenya. Ecological Application 11, 1554–1562.CrossRefGoogle Scholar