Screening of Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] Genotypes against Major Insect Pests in Field Conditions

Background: India’s most important pulse crop is mungbean. Pulses are the primary source of dietary protein; consequently, they can provide the protein recommended dietary intake for the vegetarian population of India. More than 200 insect pests are known to affect pulse crops. Methods: A total of 50 mungbean germplasms were sown in two rows of 2 m in length to screen for major insect pests under field conditions from the last week of June to mid-September of 2022 and 2023 at the Genetics Plant Breeding (G.P.B.) Farm, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture andTechnology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (UP). All appropriate agronomical practices were followed when growing the crop. Results: Four major insect pests viz., whitefly, jassid, thrips and pod borer damage were found during the field screening of 50 mungbean germplasm. The whitefly population was minimum in MI 98-64 (3.0 whitefly/cage) followed by JLPM 702-1 (3.1 whitefly/cage). The maximum whitefly infestation was observed in germplasm BM 4 (5.9 and 4.6 whitefly/cage). Minimum jassid population was observed in KM 2417 and PM 4 (0.6 jassid/cage). Germplasm IPM 1603-7 and PM 1723 were free from thrips. Pod borer damage per cent was minimum in ML 2738 (2.7%) and MI 98-64 (3.6%) when the data from both years were combined.