Effect of pomegranate cultivars with varying levels of resistance to Ectomyelois ceratoniae on life history parameters of the parasitoid Venturia canescens

The performance of Venturia canescens Gravenhorst (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) parasitizing Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) were determined on five commercial cultivars of pomegranate, including Shahvare-Danesefid (relatively susceptible), Gabri and Tafti (moderately susceptible) and Esfahani-Daneghermez and Malase-Danesyah (relatively resistant) under controlled conditions. Significant differences were observed in the life history traits of V. canescens on various pomegranate cultivars. The shorter development time was detected on Shahvare-Danesefid and the longer one was on Esfahani-Daneghermez. The lowest value of intrinsic rate of increase (r) was found on Esfahani-Daneghermez. Life history parameters of V. canescens were significantly correlated with biochemical qualities of pomegranate cultivars. Esfahani-Daneghermez was found to be an unsuitable host in comparison with others for performance of V. canescens. These results may provide fundamental data to further understand crop-herbivore-parasitoid relationships. The combination of resistant host plant cultivars together with biological control agents could be proposed as an effective integrated pest management program against E. ceratoniae.