Effect of elevated carbon dioxide on the fitness traits of Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

The life history and fitness parameters of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, were studied under ambient (410 ppm) and elevated concentrations (460, 510, 560, and 610 ppm) of carbon dioxide in a Soil–Plant–Atmosphere–Research chamber. The results revealed that the egg and larval durations were significantly longer at 410 ppm and shortened at a higher carbon dioxide concentration of 610 ppm. At elevated concentrations of 560 and 610 ppm, the net reproductive rate (R0) increased to 99.90 and 88.00 numbers per female in a lifetime, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increased (rm) value was 0.22 per day at 410 ppm; it increased linearly to 0.24, 0.26, 0.30, and 0.31 per day at 460, 510, 560, and 610 ppm, respectively. The fecundity rate increased from 150.86 ± 19.32 eggs (410 ppm) to 196.33 ± 8.63 eggs (560 ppm) on increasing carbon dioxide concentration but decreased to 171.46 ± 6.79 eggs at 610 ppm. These results suggest improved fitness of P. xylostella in the future scenario of global climate change with increasing carbon dioxide concentrations.