Screening of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) Genotypes against Pod Borer Complex under Field Conditions in Eastern Plateau and Hill Region of India
Raushan Kumar
Department of Entomology, Birsa Agriculture University, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand- 834006, India.
Binay Kumar *
Department of Entomology, Birsa Agriculture University, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand- 834006, India.
Jaipal Singh Choudhary
ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Farming System Research Centre for Hill and Plateau Region, Plandu, Ranchi, Jharkhand- 834010, India.
Niraj Kumar
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Birsa Agriculture University, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand- 834006, India.
Hem Chand Lal
Department of Plant Pathology, Birsa Agriculture University, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand- 834006, India.
Pradeep Kumar Singh
Department of Entomology, Birsa Agriculture University, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand- 834006, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The pod borer complex, including Helicoverpa armigera, Melanagromyza obtusa, and Exelastis atomosa are one of the major problems of pigeonpea cultivation in the eastern plateau and hill region (EPHR) of India. Field screening of fourteen medium-duration pigeonpea genotypes for their response to key pod borer complex was assessed during Kharif 2023-24 and 2024-25 in a randomized block design at the research farm of Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India. The total pod damage caused by the pod borer complex varied from 9.27% in Ormanjhi-local to 21.70% in BAUPP 22-12. Per cent grain damage exhibited a comparable pattern, ranging between 5.70% and 13.90%, and showed a significant correlation with pod damage. Across both years, Ormanjhi-local consistently showed the lowest pod damage from 3.20 to 4.60 percent and showed the lowest pest susceptibility rating, ranging from 55.21% to 63.08% in both years. Ormanjhi-local proved to be the most promising genotype for resistance against major pod borer complex, exhibiting the lowest levels of pod and grain damage. The suggested genotype can further be utilized for pod borer-resistant breeding programmes.
Keywords: Grain damage, pod borer complex, susceptibility, susceptibility rating