They are what they eat: the relationship between nutritional quality of rice cultivars and population growth of <i>Sitotroga cerealella</i> (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

<i>Sitotroga cerealella</i> (Olivier) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the most serious pests of rice. The variations in phytoconstituents of rice cultivars (Miniket, Cottondora Sannalu, Gobindobhog, Swarna, and Tulaipanji) that led to differences in population growth of <i>S. cerealella</i> were studied. Fitness of the moth was approximated in terms of mean generation time (T_c), net reproductive rate (NRR or R₀), intrinsic rate of population increase (r_m), etc. Considering potential fecundity (P_f), growth rates, mortality coefficient (MC), and expected population size in the second generation (PF₂), we classified the susceptibility of the rice cultivars to <i>S. cerealella</i> in the order as M > C > G > S > T. This was despite the higher concentrations of all the tested primary metabolites (PMs) in C and T. The least susceptibility of T and lower susceptibility of C than M can be attributed to their higher levels of secondary metabolites (SMs). M was highly susceptible due to its lowest SM content and sufficient levels of PMs. Now, G and S contained lower amounts of SMs, but they were moderately susceptible owing to the lower PM content. This emphasises the role of SMs, such as phenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, phytates, and oxalates, in determining the susceptibility of crop cultivars. Although none of the rice cultivars were entirely resistant, it can be stated that Miniket requires more protection measures against <i>S. cerealella</i> during storage than the others.