Impact of Leaf Webber and Capsule Borer Infestation on Yield Potential of Promising Sesame Varieties

To determine the preventable loss in seed yield caused by leaf webber and capsule borer under rainfed conditions, an experiment was carried out at AICRP on Oilseeds Sesame, College of Agriculture, Tikamgarh using the sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) varieties RT 346, RT 351, TKG 306, TKG 308, Rama, JTS 8, GT 10, and TKG 22 during the kharif seasons of 2018 and 2019. All potential sesame varieties cultivated under protected settings outperformed those grown under unprotected conditions, with the exception of two types, TKG-308 and TKG22, during the capsule stage. The cultivars TKG308, TKG22, JTS8 and RAMA were shown to be significantly superior to all other sesame types produced in both protected and unprotected environments. The avoidable loss documented ranged from 26.00 to 41.00% in different varieties under protected settings compared to unprotected conditions, with the highest in RT 351 and the lowest in TKG308 due to leaf webber and capsule borer. Compared to protected conditions, the insect significantly reduced seed output in unprotected conditions. While TKG 308, RAMA and TKG22 all produced the largest seed output and performed well in unprotected settings, JTS8 is the variety that recorded the least amount of damage (2.28%, 4.94%, and 4.81% at the vegetative, flowering, and capsule stages, respectively) in unprotected conditions. Under protected conditions, the largest seed yields were produced by the TKG 308, TKG 22 and JTS8 varieties, which were 755 kg ha-1, 709 kg ha-1, and 694 kg ha-1, respectively. Overall, all of the cultivars fared well in protected settings, with greater yield potential.