Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2025)

Seasonal dynamics of arthropods in Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and nutritional link to rodent foraging

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.6125
Submitted
24 October 2024
Published
30-12-2024 — Updated on 20-01-2025
Versions

Abstract

Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) is a highly nutritive crop with more vitamins and minerals used as a fodder legume since it is available throughout the year. In the Coimbatore district farmers prefer lucerne as a fodder crop because of its quality, year-round production, and seed yield fetches a high price. The monitoring study on lucerne crop pests, natural enemies and pollinators was conducted at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore for three seasons from October 2021 to June 2024. The major sucking pests observed in Lucerne were aphids (Aphis craccivora Koch) and stink bugs (Nezara virudula, (L.)) and the natural enemy observed was coccinellid predators (Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius)). Natural enemies such as the Ladybird beetle (Coccinella repanda Thunberg) and Paper wasp (Polistes exclamans Vierick) were also documented as crucial in regulating these pest populations. The study also observed a diverse range of pollinators including the Alfalfa Leafcutter bee (Megachile rotundata (Fabricius)), various butterflies, and several species of bees that are vital for effective pollination and enhanced crop quality. The population of aphids and stink bugs ranged from 0.00 to 1.47 and from 0.00 to 1.35, respectively, from April to May. In contrast, from November to February, the aphid population varied from 0.07 to 0.45, while the stink bug population ranged from 0.02 to 0.38. The maximum population of coccinellids was recorded at 3.16 in October 2023. The correlation of pest and predator population with weather parameters showed maximum and minimum temperatures favoured the population development while it was negatively correlated with relative humidity and rainfall. Profiling of root nutrients showed lucerne roots contain a significant amount of essential nutrients that meet the dietary requirements of mice.

References

  1. Ryalls MW, Riegler M, Moore BD, Johnson SN. Biology and trophic interactions of lucerne aphids. Agric For Entomol. 2013;15:335-50. https://doi.org/10.1111/afe.12024
  2. Frame J, Charlton JFL, Laidlaw AS. Temperate forage legumes. CAB International, UK. 1998;327 pp. https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851992143.0000
  3. Knight MM, Gurr GM. Review of Nezara viridula (L.) management strategies and potential for IPM in field crops with emphasis on Australia. Crop Prot. 2007;26:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2006.03.007
  4. Jain AP, Singh MP, Tripathi RS. Farmers’ perception about vertebrate pest’s damage to arid crops. In: Rana BD, Jain AP, Soni BK, Tripathi RS, Nisha P, editors. Rodent Newsletter.17 (3-4) ed. Jodhpur: CAZRI;1993.13-14.
  5. Patel SK, Patel BH, Korat DM, Dabhi MR. Seasonal incidence of major insect pests of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (Linn.) Walpers in relation to weather parameters. Karnataka J Agri Sci. 2007;23(3):497-99.
  6. Kulkarni NS, Kumar V. Studies on insect fauna of Lucerne Medicago sativa and their impact on seed and forage yield in Lucerne Medicago sativa. In: Roy et al., Editors. XXIII International Grassland Congress (Sustainable use of Grassland Resources for Forage Production, Biodiversity and Environmental Protection), Range Management Society of India, New Delhi, India; Nov. 20-24, 2015.
  7. Van Emden HF. Host plant resistance. In: Van Emden HF, Harrington, editors. Aphids as crop pests. CABI, UK; 2007. pp. 447. https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851998190.0447
  8. Berg G, Boyd MEJ. Insects in lucerne: A guide to identification and control of insects in lucerne. Grassland Society of Victoria, Australia; 1984.
  9. Ingawale UV, Tambe AB. Seasonal abundance of aphids and their natural enemies in lucerne. Asian J of Bio Sci. 2007;2(1):8-10.
  10. Panizzi AR, Slansky JR. Suitability of selected legumes and the effect of nymphal and adult nutrition in the southern green stink bug (Hemiptera: Hetroptera: Penatatomidae). J Econ Entomol. 1991;84(1):103-13. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/84.1.103
  11. Venkatesan T, Jalali SK, Murthy KS, Bhaskaran T. Rearing of Chilomenes sexmaculatus (Fabricius) on artificial diet and its predatory efficiency against Aphis craccivora Koch. Annals of Plant Prot Sci. 2006;14(2):277-79. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357769407
  12. Singh NA, Dabhi MR, Rojasana YH, Varna CB. Feeding potential of lady bird beetle Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) on different species of aphids. Int J Adv Biochem Res. 2024;8(1):512-14. https://doi.org/10.33545/26174693.2024.v8.i1g.429
  13. Rakhshan, Ahmad ME. Influence of host plants on the growth and development of Chilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) prey on Aphis craccivora Koch. Int J of Sci and Res. 2015;4(5):250-54. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276958017
  14. Chakraborty D, Korat DM, Saneera EK. Carry -over and off-seasonal survival of Cheilomenes sexmaculata Fab. in middle Gujarat. Insect Environ. 2013;19(1):53-56.
  15. Rakhshan, Ahmad ME, Kumar S. Seasonal incidence of Aphis craccivora Koch on Vigna mungo and Vigna radiata with its predator Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Adv Agric Sci. 2018;6(1):26-33.
  16. Cameron KM, Golightly A, Miwa S, Speakman J, Boys R, von Zglinicki T. Gross energy metabolism in mice under late onset, short term caloric restriction. Mech Ageing Dev. 2011;132:202-09. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mad.2011.04.004

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.