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Inhibitory effect of chrysin on growth, development and oviposition behaviour of melon fruit fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

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Abstract

Zeugodacus cucurbitae is a major pest of cucurbit plants which in India itself is responsible for causing considerable damage to vegetables. In the present study, the effect of the secondary plant metabolite chrysin was investigated on the growth, development and oviposition behaviour of melon fruit fly. Chrysin effect on Z. cucurbitae larvae was studied by incorporating it in artificial diet at 5, 25, 125, 625 and 3125 ppm concentrations with water as a control. The larval and total developmental periods were prolonged, while percentage pupation and adult emergence of first, second and third instar larvae were inhibited with chrysin treatment. The adverse effect of chrysin was considerably greater on first instar larvae where no adults emerged at the highest concentration of 3125 ppm. The larval weight, mean relative growth rate and food assimilated also declined significantly with treatment. Also, evaluation of chrysin for oviposition deterrent activity revealed reduced oviposition by females under choice as well as no-choice conditions. The findings indicated potential use of chrysin in pest management studies.

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All authors declare that they have no objection to the availability of data and materials.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge University Grants Commission (UGC)-BSR, UGC-SAP (NO.F.4-4/2016/DRS-I (SAP-II)) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi for providing financial aid to carry out the present study.

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  1. Department of Zoology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India, 143005

    Shivali Puri, Sumit Singh & Satwinder Kaur Sohal

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  1. Shivali Puri
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  2. Sumit Singh
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SP carried out the bioassays and biochemical studies. SP and SS analyzed the data. SKS contributed in the experimental design. All authors contributed in writing the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Satwinder Kaur Sohal.

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Puri, S., Singh, S. & Sohal, S.K. Inhibitory effect of chrysin on growth, development and oviposition behaviour of melon fruit fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Phytoparasitica 50, 151–162 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-021-00940-w

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