Studies on genetic variability of Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) in Himachal Pradesh

Studies were carried out during 2015 and 2016 at Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh to determine the genetic variability of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) in Cauliflower. The diamondback moth population collected from 4 locatitons viz. three from Himachal Pradesh and one from Punjab revealed significant variability existing among them. The life table analysis revealed that the female from Palampur laid maximum eggs (368.93eggs/female). The innate capacity for increase (rc) was maximum in the Theog population (0.238) and Solan population had lowest rc value (0.209). The intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) was estimated from rc values for different populations. The Theog population had highest value of rm value (0.242) followed by the Palampur (0.236) and Fatehgarh (0.221). The least value of rc was observed in the Solan population (0.211). On comparing fertility parameters of P. xylostella, it was found that the Theog population was the most prolific among all the populations while the Solan population was the least prolific.