Pest Management Science (2010) 66, 832-838

Francisco R. Badenes-Perez, Michael Reichelt and David G. Heckel (2010)
Can sulfur fertilisation improve the effectiveness of trap crops for diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)?
Pest Management Science 66 (8), 832-838
Abstract: BACKGROUND:
The effect of sulfur fertilisation on chemical constituents of yellow rocket, Barbarea vulgaris (R. Br.), was studied with regard to its potential use as a trap crop for the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). Two types of B. vulgaris var. arcuata were used: the G-type, resistant to P. xylostella and proposed as a 'dead-end' trap crop, and the P-type, not resistant to P. xylostella and used as a control.
RESULTS:
In G-type B. vulgaris, sulfur fertilisation increased the content of the dominant glucosinolate (S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethylglucosinolate by 20%. Sulfur fertilisation did not significantly change levels of the saponins 3-0-ß-cellobiosylhederagenin and 3-0-ß-cellobiosyloleanolic acid, known to act as feeding deterrents for P. xylostella larvae. In P-type B. vulgaris, the same levels of sulfur fertilisation did not change the glucosinolate content significantly. Two-choice oviposition preference tests with B. vulgaris plants showed that P. xylostella laid 144% and 45% more eggs on G- and P-type plants with sulfur fertilisation respectively.
CONCLUSIONS:
The studies suggest that sulfur fertilisation could increase the effectiveness of G-type B. vulgaris as a trap crop for P. xylostella. The effect of plant sulfur fertilisation on P. xylostella oviposition preference is associated with a quantitative glucosinolate increase, but other compounds could also be involved.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Francisco R. Badenes-Perez, David G. Heckel

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Plutella xylostella