IN VITRO SUSCEPTIBILITY OF CAPSICUM ANNUUM L. CULTIVARS TO SUCKING PESTS

This study evaluated the resistance of six different Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars to major sucking pests, specifically aphids (Aphis gossypi Glover) and whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius), under greenhouse conditions at College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Umiam, Meghalaya.The results revealed that among the six cultivars evaluated Arka Khyati demonstrated the lowest susceptibility to aphids (Aphis gossypii Glover), averaging 94 aphids per plant and 15.66 per leaf, with minimal damage indicated by a leaf distortion index of 0.33 and a chlorosis index of 0.00.Whereas, IPBC-313 exhibited the highest susceptibility, with 430 aphids per plant and 71.66 per leaf, showing severe damage reflected in a leaf distortion index of 4.33 and a chlorosis index of 3.33.In case of whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) resistance, Arka Khyati again outperformed the others, with only 2.99 whiteflies settlement and an infestation index of 0.66, while IPBC-313 was highly susceptible, with 16.00 whiteflies settled and an infestation index of 5.00.