New Horizons in Insect Science Towards Sustainable Pest Management

Redesigning Research on Crop Resistance to Insects: Experiences with Tomato 303

Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) inoculation in induc-
ing insect resistance/tolerance could not be defi-
nitely explained though yield enhancement was
achieved (Gopalakrishnan 2006 ; Selvanarayanan
2009 ; Selvanarayanan 2011 ).
In the field evaluation, larval population of H.
armigera was found to be less in the AM fun-
gal inoculated plants as against the uninoculated
plants of both the resistant and susceptible acces-
sions (Table 14 ). But higher larval population of
S. litura was recorded in inoculated plants than
that of uninoculated plants. Similarly, in the pot
culture studies, feeding preference of H. armig-
era was high toward uninoculated plants of both

the accessions in contrast to S. litura which pre-

ferred the inoculated plants (Table 15 ). G. mar-

garita inoculated plants recorded lesser feeding

preference by H. armigera while G. mosseae in-

oculated plants were less preferred by S. litura

(Selvanarayanan 2011 ).

Problems and Prospects of Resistance

Breeding of Tomatoes

In resistance breeding programs, segregation

of desirable traits in the generations is a com-

mon phenomenon and for obtaining sustenance

Table 14 Influence of AM fungi on larval population of H. armigera and S. litura on tomato
AMF Larval population/plant
H. armigera S. litura
Varushanadu Local I 979 Varushanadu Local I 979
Glomus fasciculatum
(Thaxt.)Gerd. and
Trappe

1.00 1.83 0.67 1.20

Glomus mosseae
(Nicol. and Gerd.)

0.67 1.73 0.93 1.53

Gigaspora. Margarita
(Becker and Hall)

1.27 2.00 1.10 1.70

Acaulospora laevis
(Gerd. and Trappe)

1.47 2.67 1.13 1.40

Control 2.47 2.30 0.67 1.33
C.D. ( p = 0.05) Acc./
AMF

0.36 0.16

Acc. × AMF 0.80 0.36
Each value is a mean of five replications

Table 15 Influence of AM fungi on feeding preference of H. armigera and S. litura on tomato accessions
AMF Leaf damage (%)
H. armigera S. litura
Varushanadu Local I 979 Varushanadu Local I 979
Glomus fasciculatum
(Thaxt.)Gerd. and
Trappe

10.25 23.53 8.51 70.97

Glomus mosseae
(Nicol. and Gerd.)

10.23 23.55 7.84 70.61

Gigaspora. Margarita
(Becker and Hall)

10.21 23.50 8.51 70.62

Acaulospora laevis
(Gerd. and Trappe)

10.23 23.84 8.29 70.96

Control 11.07 24.49 8.27 70.63
C.D. ( p = 0.05) Acc./
AMF

0.078 0.24

Acc. × AMF 0.17 0.54
Each value is a mean of five replications