Boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis Boheman) oviposition and feed in ratoon cotton of mutants lines of upland cotton

Abstract

Ratoon or stub cotton is a cotton crop in which the stalks are cut down after harvest, but the crown and rootstock are left to regrow in the following season. This form of cropping might be feasible for some humid tropical area where cotton is growing, especially in small farmers. The objective of this research was to study the behavior of growing ratoon Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) containing the morphological mutants okra leaf, frego bract and red plant body in all possible homozygous combinations in relation to the attack of the boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis Boheman). Although this form of cropping is not used in most parts of the cotton growing area for pest and disease reasons, cotton lines containing morphological mutants that confer resistance to insets, including the boll weevil, might became this practice feasible. The experimental design utilized was randomized complete blocks with nine treatments and four replications planted in the experimental areas of the Universidade Federal do Ceará, Brazil. The percentage of squares with boll weevil feed and oviposition punctures determined on the cotton lines that had three combinations of boll weevil non-preference characters were made once a week during seven weeks. The low number of squares with oviposition punctures per plant clearly indicated that the characters frego bract associated with red plant body had an effect in imparting the preference of the insect.