Dr. K. V. HARI PRASADNISCHALA, A2017-08-022017-08-022015http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810027051VARIETAL INFLUENCE OF GINGER AND TURMERIC ON BIOLOGY AND LIFE TABLES OF CIGARETTE BEETLE, Lasiodermaserricorne(FABRICIUS).”An experiment was conducted to study the influence of four varieties of dry turmeric (Duggirala, Tekurpet, Mydukur local and Kasturi) and five varieties of dry ginger (Kerala, Mahima, Malini, Local Siddipet and Rajitha) on the biology, fecundity and morphometrics of Lasiodermaserricorne at the Department of Entomology, S.V. Agricultural college, Tirupati, at prevailing room temperature of 26 ± 2°C and RH of 60-95 %. The results showed that among the different varieties of dry turmeric, L. serricorneshowed longest developmental period when reared on Kasturi and least developmental period was observed when reared on Duggirala and Tekurpet giving Kasturi the status of least preferred variety,Duggirala and Tekurpet, the status of most preferred varieties for the growth and development of L. serricorne. Among the different varieties of dry ginger, the durations of different stages of L. serricornewere longest when reared on Malini and shorter durations were observed when reared on Local Siddipet giving these two varieties the status of most preferred and least preferred varieties for growth and development of L. serricorne. The adults reared from least preferred variety Malini, were much smaller and laid less number of eggs (39.33 ± 1.15) compared to adults reared from the most preferred variety Local Siddipet, where the adults were bigger and laid more number of eggs (50.00 ± 5.00). Among different varieties of dry turmeric, mean developmental period of L. serricorne was more; index of susceptibility, index of suitability, growth index, and per cent survival of L. serricorne was less on variety Kasturi and per cent mean weight loss was significantly low on variety Kasturi, giving it the status of poor host for growth and development of L. serricorne. The variety Kasturi has been given the status of poor host for growth and development of L. serricorne. Among different varieties of dry ginger, mean developmental period of L. serricorne was more; index of susceptibility, index of suitability, growth index, per cent survival of L. serricorne and per cent mean weight loss was less on variety Malini, giving it the status of least preferred dry ginger variety for growth and development of L. serricorne. Whereas, on variety Local Siddipet, mean developmental period of L. serricorne was less, index of susceptibility, index of suitability, growth index, per cent survival of L. serricorne and per cent mean weight loss was significantly more, giving it the status of most preferred dry ginger variety for growth and development of L. serricorne. The insect with low survival rate, life expectancy, net reproductive rate, fecundity, intrinsic rate of natural increase and with high mortality rate, mean generation time and doubling time when reared on a particular variety can assessed as a susceptible variety. From the above findings, among turmeric varieties it can be assessed that Kasturi was the most tolerant variety. Among the ginger varieties, it can be assessed that Malini was most tolerant variety. The variety Malini has been given the status of poor host for growth and development of L. serricorne and Local Siddipet has been given the status of most preferred dry ginger variety for growth and development of L. serricorne.en-USnullThesis