Preference and performance of thrips, Megalurothrips distalis Karny on selected greengram accessions

Abstract

Many studies conducted in the last few decades focused solely on the field screening of greengram against thrips. There has not been much research done on the interaction between thrips, Megalurothrips distalis and greengram. So, in the current study, several laboratory experiments were carried out to determine the feeding and oviposition preferences of M. distalis on terminal leaves and flowers of selected greengram accessions, as well as to compare the biological preferences of M. distalis on terminal leaves and flowers of selected greengram accessions. In the free choice tests, when compared to accession IC-39380, IC-39430, and IC-103862, the M. distalis population showed a lower feeding preference for accession IC-329039-1, followed by accession IC-325782. Furthermore, under laboratory conditions, the M. distalis population reared on accession IC-329039-1 showed significantly slower development, shorter lifespan and lower survival and fecundity rate than the other four accessions. Overall, the current study could help us to understand how M. distalis interacts with its selected greengram accessions. As a result, these findings indicate that the abundance of thrips populations varies among the selected accessions and is heavily influenced by the identity and condition of the respective accessions. These contributions may help us develop a better IPM control programme for thrips in the future.