Screening of new promising varieties of berseem (<i>Trifolium alexandrinum</i>) against aphid and leafminer

Abstract

High Quality fodder crops are a key component of the white uprising of milk yield. Berseem is a top forage crop also known as the Queen of all Cultivated Fodders or the Green Gold of the Asia. The experiment was designed to screen out the six varieties of berseem viz. F-01-16, F-02-16, F01-17, F-02-17, F-01-18 and F-02-18 against aphid and leaf minor. The data regarding aphid and leaf miner was recorded on weekly bases from five selected plants. The results showed significant difference in aphid and leaf miner population among six berseem varieties. The results depicted that maximum seasonal mean population of aphid was observed in F-02-16 (1.06) followed by F-01-17 (1.03) while minimum mean population was observed in the case of F-02-17 (0.84) followed by F-01-16 (0.96). In case of leaf miner, it was observed that maximum seasonal population was recorded in F-01-18 (13.21) followed by F-02-16 (12.47) while minimum mean population was calculated in the case of F-02-17 (8.45) followed by F-01-16 (11.65).