Phytochemicals in Brassica juncea distressing developmental and reproductive biology of mustard aphid (Lipaphis erysimi)

Abstract

The present study was carried out to decipher the variation in plant phytochemicals, and their effect on developmental, reproduction and survival of Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.) on diverse Brassica juncea cultivars. These studies revealed significant differences in total nymphal, reproductive and developmental periods, fecundity and offspring survival of L. erysimi on the test B. juncea cultivars. Development period was significantly longer on DRMR 150-35, PM 26, RLC 3 and PM 25, while fecundity and survival were lower on PM 27, RLC 3, NRCHB 101, RH 749, Pusa Tarak, RH 0406 and PM 30, except in a few cases. Total proteins, antioxidants, tannins, phenols and FRAP were significantly higher, and sugars lower in DRMR 150-35, RLC 3, PM 26 and NRCHB 101 as compared to other B. juncea cultivars. Total proteins, total tannins and antioxidants exhibited a significant and positive, while total sugars showed negative correlation, and explained 86.1% variability in total developmental period of L. erysimi. Total sugars revealed a significantly positive and FRAP negative correlation, explaining 35.5% variability in fecundity of L. erysimi. Furthermore, total proteins and total antioxidants also showed significant and negative correlation with offspring survival, and total phenols and antioxidants explained 28.9% variability in offspring survival of L. erysimi on the test B. juncea genotypes. Present study suggests that DRMR 150-35, RLC 3, NRCHB 101 and PM 26 have greater amounts of antinutritional plant defense compounds which adversely affect the developmental and reproductive biology of L. erysimi, and thus could be used in Brassica improvement programme for sustainable crop production.