Association of Agrometeorologists

Effects of elevated temperature and carbon dioxide on food consumption and growh of Spodoptera litura Fabricius on cauliflower

SMRITI SHARMA and TEJINDER SINGH BRAR

The studies on influence of temperature and carbon dioxide levels on food consumption and growth of Spodoptera litura on cauliflower were conducted in controlled environment during 2015-16 with two different temperature (25:11oC and 25:14oC) and three carbon dioxide regimes (350, 400, 450 ppm). Temperature and carbon dioxide had significant effect on food consumption parameters of S. litura.Overall the food consumption of S. litura increased from 0.18g larva-1 at temperature of 25: 11oC and CO2 of 350 ppm to 0.31g larva-1 at temperature of 25: 14oC and CO2 of 450 ppm.Similarly, relative growth rate increased from 0.15 to 0.27 mg mg-1 day-1 and larval weight gain increased from 0.14 to 0.28 gday-1. However, with increase in CO2 concentration at 450 ppm, the larval weight gain decreased from 0.28 to 0.22g day-1.

Spodoptera litura, nutritional indices, temperature, carbon dioxide, cauliflower.