author(s)
Arvind Kumar, RS Rana, KC Sharma and VGS Chandel

abstract
Studies were carried out during 2015 and 2016 at Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh to determine the genetic variability of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) in Cauliflower. The diamondback moth population collected from 4 locatitons viz. three from Himachal Pradesh and one from Punjab revealed significant variability existing among them. The life table analysis revealed that the female from Palampur laid maximum eggs (368.93eggs/female). The innate capacity for increase (r_c) was maximum in the Theog population (0.238) and Solan population had lowest r_c value (0.209). The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r_m) was estimated from r_c values for different populations. The Theog population had highest value of r_m value (0.242) followed by the Palampur (0.236) and Fatehgarh (0.221). The least value of r_c was observed in the Solan population (0.211). On comparing fertility parameters of P. xylostella, it was found that the Theog population was the most prolific among all the populations while the Solan population was the least prolific.