Effects of host plant on the development and reproduction of (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on horticultural crops.

One of cosmopolitan pest, (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), causes serious economic damages in horticultural crops. This pest is difficult to manage and causes irreversible damage because its larvae stay in the ground at day and cut the plant stems at night. Thus, this study compared the host fitness of among nine major horticultural crops in Korea. Among the nine crops, the population of failed to complete its development in spinach, cucumber, melon, and kidney bean. The host effects on development and reproduction of were further investigated in the remained five crops (i.e., napa cabbage, soybean, perilla, corn, and pepper). Host plants significantly ( < 0.05) affected the development-related factors (i.e., developmental time, survivorship, and weight) of eggs, larvae, and pupae. They also affected the adult reproduction-related factors including preoviposition period, oviposition period and number, and longevity except for the prepupa stage. A positive relationship was found between biological factors (i.e., development- and reproduction-related factors). Among the nine crops in this study, napa cabbage showed the highest suitability for the populations. These findings in this study would be helpful to understand the ecology and develop the management tactics of in horticultural crops