Assessing the performance of pigeon pea varieties against major pod borer complex from Eastern part of India

Pod borer complex in pigeon pea are the major constraints for successful cultivation with drastically yield reduction. Therefore, varietal evaluation of pigeon pea against major pod borer complex was carried out at the experimental farm of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, West Bengal, India for two consecutive years. A total of 13 pigeon pea varieties such as BAHAR, PUSA-9, MA6, ASHA, PUSA2001, ICPL 87, PUSA992, PUSA991, MARUTI, CORG 9701, UPAS 120, BRG 2, NDA1 were sown in 20 m2 plot with three replication using randomized block design. Number of larvae of Helicoverpa armigera and Maruca vitrata were recorded from 10 randomly selected plants at weekly intervals from flowering to maturity of pods whereas fifty pods were screened for Melanagromyza obtusa at pod formation, pod filling and pod maturity stages. The pooled data of two years results showed a significant variation of pod borer infestation among the varieties of pigeon pea. The study showed that among the screened varieties, Pusa 9, Pusa 991 and MA 6 exhibited the minimum infestation level of H. armigera (0.35, 0.43 and 0.54 larvae/plant), M. vitrata (1.54, 1.69 and 2.08 larvae/plant) at all pods developmental stages. The similar performance of these varieties was also noticed against M. obtusa. Therefore, the study identified some promising varieties which may be useful for future breeding programme and these varieties will be also suitable in the integrated pest management programme of pigeon pea.