Screening for Resistance Against Pulse Beetle, Callosobruchus analis (F.) in Greengram (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) Accessions

Abstract

The susceptibility of eighty five green gram accessions were evaluated against pulse beetle, Callosobruchus analis (F.) under laboratory conditions. Accessions which exhibited lesser susceptibility index during the preliminary free choice tests were further subjected to ‘force choice’ test for confirmation of bruchid resistance. No green gram accession was found immune to bruchid infestation and showed significant difference in terms of oviposition, developmental period, adult emergence and seed weight loss. Two accessions viz, Km-12-5 and P-S-16 revealed lesser per cent adult emergence of 12.22 and 14.29, respectively. Prolonged developmental period (25.67 and 26.00 days, respectively) and lesser susceptibility index (0.042 and 0.044 respectively) in comparison to highly susceptible Ganga 8, which exhibited a survival of 71.67 %, developmental period of 20.67 days and susceptibility index of 0.09. Correlation between GI and other growth parameters of pulse beetle on different accessions indicated that GI had negative relationship with mean developmental period (−0.924) and significant positive relationship with adult emergence (0.931), weigh loss (0.952) and eggs laid (0.734). Hence, these accessions can be effectively used as promising donors for developing bruchid resistant varieties which would ensure food security by reducing postharvest losses under storage conditions.