An improved leaf-disk antifeedant bioassay and its application for the screening of Hokkaido plants

In the course of our search for new insect antifeedant substances from plants, we have devised an improved antifeedant leaf-disk bioassay. Our system allows an accurate measurement of consumed disk surfaces, using a video camera interfaced with a computer. The scanned image of the leaf disks is stored, and the eaten areas are measured with the help of a video-image analysis software. This new method allows for precise quantification of insect antifeedant activity tested on leaf material. This method was applied to the screening of Hokkaido plants for antifeedant activity. Out of 206 samples, seven demonstrated significant activity against larvae of the tobacco cutworm,Spodoptera litura.