Abstract
Cotton crop (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is considered economy crop worldwide especially in Pakistan. Cotton plays strong role in proportion of GDP and foreign exchange earnings. In Pakistan, around 55% cotton is exporting fiber commodity and 15 % area of cultivation is devoted to cotton crop especially Bt cotton. However, Bt cotton suppress the chewing pests but give a favorable niche to sucking pests. Among sucking pests, the Oxycarenus hyalinipennis Costa is emerging sucking pest in Bt cotton, and damaging the more than 40 different plants. Study regarding preference of seed and two-sex life table traits of O. hyalinipennis is necessary for its eco-friendly management. Therefore, this explain the preference of cotton seeds e.g., CIM-620 (non-Bt variety), CIM-717 (non-Bt variety), Bt-CIM-632 and Bt-Cyto-179 by O. hyalinipennis, as well as its fitness on these seeds under laboratory condition. Results indicated that both males and females preferred Bt-Cyto-179 for ovipositing as compared to other three varieties. The developmental time from eggs to males (176.85 ± 7.43) and females (184.94 ± 7.85) were significantly longer on other verities as compared to Bt-Cyto-179. The O. hyalinipennis females produce significantly more eggs on Bt-Cyto-179 (215 ± 2.34 eggs female-1) than those on other three seeds e.g., CIM-620, CIM 717, and Bt-CIM-632. In conclusion, Bt-Cyto-179 was the more suitable varieties to attract and rear O. hyalinipennis than CIM 632, and CIM 717 seeds. And our study suggests that Bt-Cyto-179 can be used as a bait crop to control O. hyalinipennis and rearing purpose for molecular studies.