A Comparative Study on the Susceptibility of Chickpea Cultivars to the Insect Callosoprocus Chinensis L. and Callosobruchus analis F.

Abstract

Chickpea is important pulse crop of India and in terms of production it rank first in legumes. During storage, chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is severely attacked by some bruchid species, especially Callosobruchus chinensis L. and C. analis F. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), resulting in losses in quantity and quality. In the present study eight cultivars (BG-256, Pusa-372, BGD-72, Pusa-1088, Pusa-5023, Pusa-5028, Pusa-1103, BG-1108) of chickpea were selected and evaluated against C. chinensis and C. analis. The choice and no choice methods were adopted to evaluate oviposition, emergence, mean development period (MDP) and growth index (GI) of selected chickpea cultivars on two years produce. The results revealed that there are significant differences in biological parameters which recorded by choice and no choice methods among selected varieties. The difference in varietal suitability or unsuitability affects the bruchid growth and development. Also it was found that stored seeds are more suitable to one species than other species according to storage duration. One year old seeds were found more suitable than freshly harvested seeds in case of Callosobruchus analis, but in case of Callosobruchus chinensis except few varieties maximum freshly harvested seeds were found more susceptible. These varietal characteristics responsible for such a behavior may be used and incorporated in breeding programme to develop high yielding varieties which are also resistant to insect infestation during storage.