7-2-1 Bachchu et al

EFFECT OF BIOPHYSICAL FRUIT TRAITS ON THE INFESTATION OF BACTROCERA CUCURBITAE COQ. IN MOMORDICA CHARANTIA L.
M. A. A. Bachchu*, M. O. kulsum,  M. M. H. Bhuyain, M. N. Uddin  and R. Ara
*Corresponding author, E-mail: aabachchu1975@gmail.com


Abstract
Cucurbit fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) is one of the most serious pests of bitter gourd, Momordica charanTia L. and cause enormous damage. As an alternative control method to chemical pesticide, an investigation was conducted to find out the traits associated with resistance in different bitter gourd varieties viz. Tia, Heeradill, Bulbuli, Masrangha, Goghkorolla, Poran, Green Queen and  Sonamukhi. The percent fruit infestation and larval density were significantly varied among the bitter gourd varieties. The variety Goghkorolla was categorized to be as resistant (19.39 %) whereas, masrangha (41.91 %), Tia (46.09 %) and Sonamukhi (50.00 %) as moderately  resistant, heeradil (58.89%), Green Queen (59.05 %), Poran (59.44 %) and Bulbuli (69.06 %) categorized as susceptible varieties at early fruiting stage. Contrarily, at mid fruiting stage all varieties were susceptible to fruit fly except Sonamukhi (46.69 %). Again, all tested varieties showed highly susceptibility to cucurbit fruit fly at late fruiting stage. The weight reduction in three different fruiting stages for all bitter gourd varieties was found to differ and the highest weight reduction was obtained from Bulbuli whereas, the lowest was with Sonamukhi. The result also revealed that the larval density had a significant positive correlation with percent of fruit infestation. Biophysical fruit-traits like fruit length, fruit diameter, number of longitudinal ribs and small ridges were lowest in resistant and the highest in susceptible varieties which showed a significant positive correlation with the percent of fruit infestation. Additionally, the height of longitudinal ribs, depth of small ridges, pericarp thickness and fruit toughness were highest in resistant and the lowest in susceptible varieties. These parameters showed negative correlation with the percent of fruit infestation. 

Keywords: Biophysical fruit traits, resistant, susceptibility, infestation, larval density and Bactrocera cucurbitae.


Full volume: 7(2)

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