Date of Award

12-2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Legacy Department

Entomology

Committee Member

Dr. Juang-Horng Chong, Committee Co-Chair

Committee Member

Dr .Matthew Turnbull, Committee Co-Chair

Committee Member

Dr. Peter Adler

Committee Member

Dr. Dara Park

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate how different nitrogen fertilization rates of host-plants influence the development, fecundity, and nutritional status of a pest insect,the Madeira mealybug (Phenococcus madeirensis Green, Hemiptera: Psuedococcidae).This study evaluated the effects of nitrogen fertilization (0, 75, 150 and 300 ppm N) onthe growth, % nitrogen, % carbon, lipid, and protein contents of basil plants (Ocimum basilicum L., Lamiaceae), and the subsequent impacts of host-plant nutritional status onthe life history and total lipid and protein contents of the Madeira mealybug. Heights androot lengths of plants fertilized with 75 ppm N were greater than those of plants of anyother nitrogen level. Plant leaves and stems from the 300 ppm N level had the highest %nitrogen, but the leaves did not exhibit significant differences in protein content acrossplant nitrogen levels. Plants might be allocating nitrogen to maintain proper functioningof photosynthetic organs. No consistent patterns were observed for plant tissue %carbon, and no significant differences were found in plant tissue lipid absorbance values across nitrogen levels. Developmental times and survivorship of mealybugs between instars and from egg to adulthood did not differ across nitrogen levels. Mealybug females reared on plants fertilized with 0 ppm N had the fewest eggs. Net reproductive rates, intrinsic rates of increase, and finite rates of increase did not differ amongmealybugs reared on plants fertilized at all nitrogen levels. Females reared on plantsfertilized at 0 and 75 ppm N had the longest and shortest generation times, respectively.Adult females reared on plants fertilized at 0 ppm N had the highest protein contents andproduced the most eggs, but their eggs had the lowest protein contents compared to those of their counterparts from the other nitrogen fertilization levels. Adult females reared on plants fertilized at 300 ppm N had lower total protein contents and produced fewer numbers of eggs than those from unfertilized plants, but their eggs were the highest in average protein content. This finding indicates that Madeira mealybug females are able to differentially allocate nutrients based on host-plant nutrient status.

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.