Evaluation of yield loss due to gram pod borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) on chickpea

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the yield loss in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties due to the gram pod borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) at the R.A.K. College of Agriculture, Sehore during post rainy season of 2016–17. The results on the seasonal incidence revealed that the pod borer remained active from 51st (third week of December) to 9th (first week of March) Standard Meteorological Week (SMW), with two peaks, i.e., first at 75% flowering (4thSMW) and second at 30% podding (6th SMW). At pod formation stage, higher ratio of late larval instars was observed. Seven varieties were evaluated for tolerance/resistance, with observations on the larval population, starting from second week of December 2016, and on pod damage, yield loss and grain yield at maturity. The least larval incidence was observed on treated and untreated crops of the variety RVG-202, while the maximum was with RVSIKG-102, followed by RVG-202, RVKG-101, JG-130, JAKI-9218, and JGK-3. The pod damage was the least in the variety JGK-3, followed by JAKI-9218 and JG 130; and maximum pod damage and yield loss was observed in the untreated variety RVSIKG-102, followed by RVKG-101.