Leaves from grafted Meliaceae species affect survival and performance of Hypsipyla grandella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae

In order to determine their effects on growth and mortality of instar II Hypsipyla grandella (Zeller), larvae were fed with leaf disks taken from shoots of susceptible species (Cedrela odorata L. and Swietenia macrophylla King) scions grafted onto resistant ones (Khaya senegalensis Desr. A. Juss and Toona ciliata M. Roem.), from their reciprocal grafts, and from both intact and autografted plants. In addition, crude leaf extracts from the susceptible and resistant plants, as well as from C. odorata grafted onto T. ciliata plants, were tested on C. odorata leaf disks. Mortality was evaluated 2, 10, and 25 days after starting the bioassay. Leaf area consumed and weight gain per larva were assessed 2 days after starting bioassay. Time to reach pupation, pupal weight and length 1 day after pupation, and time to adult stage and appearance of wings were determined at the end of the bioassay. Plant species significantly affected mortality (P ≤ 0.04) throughout the test. Eighty to 100% of larvae fed leaf disks from intact T. ciliata and its autograft, or C. odorata onto T. ciliata and its reciprocal graft died in the first 2 days of evaluation. All other factors measured, except pupal weight and length, were also affected (P ≤ 0.01) by the leaf disks. Intact resistant plants and reciprocal grafted plants reduced leaf consumption and caused larval weight loss. Larvae fed on K. senegalensis grafted onto S. macrophylla extended by 8 days the time to pupa and to adult stages and induced abnormal wing formation compared to larvae fed intact leaves of C. odorata. Crude extracts from resistant plants equally affected larval survival and performance compared to crude extract from C. odorata grafted onto T. ciliata plants, and these extracts were more detrimental to larvae than those from susceptible species. This study demonstrated that grafting borer-susceptible species on resistant rootstocks can affect the survival and performance of instar II H. grandella larvae.