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Morphological Characteristics and Protein Content of Cucurbit Leaves Influencing Aulacophora Foveicollis Luca

M. M. H. KHAN
Department of Entomology, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali-8602, Bangladesh

M. Z. ALAM
Department of Entomology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur-1706, Bangladesh

M. M. RAHMAN
Department of Entomology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur-1706, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was conducted to find out the morphological characteristics and protein content of leaves of ten cucurbits influencing Aulacophora foveicollis. The leaf colour of different cucurbits was observed and categorized as light green, green, semi-dark and dark green. Results revealed that thickness of mature leaves was much higher than that of young leaves in sweet gourd, ash gourd, sponge gourd, snake gourd, ribbed gourd and muskmelon. In bottle gourd, thickness of young and mature leaves was identical. In cucumber and khira, young leaves were thicker than mature ones. Thickness of young and mature leaves of different cucurbits ranged 0.20-0.48 mm and 0.29-0.48 mm, respectively. Trichome length was higher on young leaves as compared to mature leaves of all cucurbits. Trichome length ranged 0.29-1.05 mm on young leaves and 0.24-0.67 mm on mature leaves of different cucurbits. The highest length of trichome on young and mature leaves of sweet gourd was 1.05 mm and 0.67 mm. Young leaves of sweet gourd, bottle gourd, ribbed gourd, cucumber, khira and muskmelon showed higher number of trichomes as compared to mature leaves. Higher number of RPB was found on mature leaf as compared to young leaf of all cucurbit hosts. The highest protein content was found in young leaf (42.42%) of sweet gourd and mature leaf (34.81%) of bottle gourd. The lowest percentage of protein was found in young leaf (22.73%) of bitter gourd and mature leaf (15.77%) of ribbed gourd

Keywords: Aulacophora foveicollis, Characteristics, cucurbits, protein content, Trichome

Location: Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur

Start Date: 00-11-2007

End Date: 00-03-2008

Program Area: Pest Management

Commodity: Vegetables

Objectives:

The aim of the study was to investigate the morphological characteristics and protein content of leaves of different cucurbits influencing red pumpkin beetle (RPB) population.

Methodology:

Ten cucurbit host species of RPB viz., sweet gourd (Cucurbita moschata L.), bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria L.), ash gourd (Benincasa hispida L.), bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.), sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica L.), ribbed gourd (Luffa acutangula L.), snake gourd (Trichosanthes anguina L.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), khira (Cucumis sativus L.) and musk melon (Cucurbita melo L.) were grown in the experimental farm of Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur during November 2007 to March 2008 following recommended procedures. The experiment was conducted following RCBD. Morphology and trichome characters of selected cucurbit leaves were determined or estimated in the Laboratory of the Department of Entomology of BSMRAU. Collection of sample: Plants were selected randomly from each cucurbit host grown in the experimental field. Samples of mature leaves from middle part and young leaves from upper region (third leaf from the top of the selected plants) were collected at vegetative stage (18 to 35 DAT). Data on morphology and trichome characters of all leaf samples were recorded. Leaf morphology included colour and thickness of leaves. Trichome characters included trichome shape, length and number of trichome cm² of leaf. Leaf colour: The degree of leaf colour was recorded by visual observation. The leaf samples were observed with naked eye and degree of greenness was recorded as dark green, semi-dark green, green and light green. Leaf thickness: Thickness of leaf samples was measured using a digimatic caliper.Trichome characters: Pieces of 1 cm² diameter were cut from both young and mature leaves. The under surface of leaf pieces were observed under a stereo dissecting microscope (10 x eye piece, 4x objective) and number of trichomes per cm² leaf pieces were recorded. Length of 10 randomly selected trichomes was measured using a micrometer fitted in the eye piece of the dissecting microscope. The actual length of the trichome was determined. Protein content (%)Nitrogen content was estimated by Micro Kjeldahl method and the percent protein content was estimated by multiplying percent nitrogen with the factor 6.25. Number of RPB population: Number of beetles infesting young and mature leaves of various cucurbits was recorded from the experimental field. This operation was done through out the vegetative stage of plant. Statistical Analysis: All data were analyzed statistically for ANOVA (Steel & Torrie 1960) using MSTAT-C computer software. For the accuracy of the results, the percent data were subjected to square root [ (x + 0.5)] transformation whenever needed. Means were separated by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (Steel & Torrie 1960). Relationship between red pumpkin beetle and % protein content was computed.

Source of Information: Bangladesh j. entomol. (2014) 24(1), 1-12 ISSN 1021-1004

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Funding Source:

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Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The percentage of leaf protein at different stages of leaf was varied significantly among the cucurbits. The percentage of leaf protein on different cucurbits at young leaf stage was ranged from 22.73 to 42.42%. The highest protein content (42.42%) was found in sweet gourd which was statistically similar to that of bottle gourd (41.59%). The bitter gourd had the lowest percentage of protein (22.73%) which was statistically similar to that of ribbed gourd (23.10%). Similarly, the percentage of protein on different cucurbits at mature leaf stage was ranged from 15.77 to 34.81 %. The highest protein content (34.81%) was found in bottle gourd which was statistically similar to that of sweet gourd (32.83%). The ribbed gourd had the lowest percentage of protein (15.77%) which was statistically similar to that of snake gourd (17.69%) (Table 4). Relationship of the number of RPB per leaf with the percent protein content of young and mature leaves of cucurbits was found positively correlated. The probable reason of the variation as observed in the number of trichomes per cm² area of leaves among cucurbits is genetical. The protein content of insects and mites is 7-14 % N, whereas that of plants or plant parts rarely reaches 7 % N and is generally much lower. The feeding of phytophagous insects is often concentrated at the growing point of the plant and on ripening reproductive parts, which generally contain the highest concentration of nitrogenous compounds. Water and nitrogenous compounds (especially protein and amino acids) both being relatively high in young leaves and declining with leaf maturation.

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