Protease inhibitors confer resistance in plants against insect pests by inhibiting larval gut proteases. Cultivars of Dolichos biflorus were screened for their inhibitory activity against midgut proteases of Pieris brassicae larvae. Seed extracts of developing and germinating seeds of HPK4 cultivar inhibited larval gut proteases of Spodoptera littoralis efficiently. Neonate larvae of P. brassic...

Experience of insect herbivores and their natural enemies in the natal habitat is considered to affect their likelihood of accepting a similar habitat or plant/host during dispersal. Growing phenology of food plants and the number of generations in the insects further determines lability of insect behavioural responses at eclosion. We studied the effect of rearing history on oviposition prefere...

BACKGROUND In Arabidopsis thaliana and other crucifers, the glucosinolate-myrosinase system contributes to resistance against herbivory by generalist insects. As yet, it is unclear how crucifers defend themselves against crucifer-specialist insect herbivores. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We analyzed natural variation for resistance against two crucifer specialist lepidopteran herbivores, Pi...

Pieris brassicae is one of the most serious pests of cultivated crucifers in the world. The present experiment is intended to determine the proteolytic digestion of fifth instar larvae and the effects of four cruciferous hosts to P. brassicae nutritional physiology. Brassica oleracea var. botrytis, Brassica oleracea var. capitata, Brassica oleracea var. italica and Brassica oleracea var. viridi...

Abstract Background Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) have the potential to supersede larvicidal activity for management of various insect pests. Result Lab experiments were conducted test pathogenicity 2 EPNs local species; Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora at different (IJs/cm ) concentrations against cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassicae (L.). The native isolate was obtaine...

The larvae of insect herbivores feed on plants that may vary nutritionally (qualitatively and/or quantitatively) over the course development. Plant quality change in response to interactions with biotic environment turn affect development and biomass insects feeding these plants. However, many gregariously comparatively small limited also experience variation quantity plant food available. Pier...