A chickpea-Parthenium-based semi-synthetic diet was developed and standardized for the laboratory rearing of Zygogramma bicolorata, an important biological control agent of Parthenium hysterophorus. The diet was formulated using different combinations of essential nutritional and preservative constituents.
Chickpea flour and Parthenium leaf powder were used as the primary sources of carbohydrates and proteins, ensuring both nutritional adequacy and host-plant familiarity for the insect. Results indicated significant variation in insect performance across different diet ratios. Among the tested treatments, the chickpea-to-Parthenium ratio of 25:75 proved to be the most suitable, supporting faster development, higher survival, and better overall fitness of Z. bicolorata.
(Source: ICAR- Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur)
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