Food consumption and relative growth rate of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee) on rice under elevated temperature and carbon dioxide conditions

The present studies were conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during 2019-22. The impact of variable minimum:maximum temperature for 10:14 h, CO2 and RH on food consumption and relative growth rate (RGR) of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis was analysed. The food consumption and RGR of C. medinalis larvae were significantly influenced with change in temperature, CO2 and RH conditions. Food consumption and RGR increased with increase in temperature, CO2 and RH. The increase in temperature (22:32°C to 26:35°C), CO2 concentration (400 to 450 ppm) and RH (75 to 85 %) was found to increase the food consumption (0.0210 to 0.0450 g larva-1) and RGR (0.0200 to 0.0770 mg mg-1day-1).