Influence of Biochemical and Physiological Traits of Sesame (Sesamum indicum Linnaeus) on Susceptibility to Major Sucking Insect Pests

Biochemical and physiological parameters of sesame and the relative susceptibility to major sucking insect pests, namely Bemisia tabaci, Orocicus albicinctus and Nesidiocoris tenuis were evaluated during the summer season of 2022 at the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Sesame and Niger, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (M.P.). Ash content (%) showed a significant negative correlation with populations of O. albicinctus (r = -0.879**), N. tenuis (r = -0.857**) and B. tabaci (r = -0.817**), while silica content had a non-significant effect on the incidence of these sucking insect pests. Chlorophyll content index showed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.497*) with the population of O. albicinctus, but non-significant correlations with the populations of B. tabaci and N. tenuis. These findings highlight the importance of host plant traits in influencing insect pest abundance and host preference, inclusion of biochemical and biophysical traits adds significant value by improving the understanding of plant characteristics associated with pest incidence.