​​Morphological and Chemical Components of Resistance to Pod Borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) in Chickpea Germplasm

Abstract

Background: Chickpea pod borer (CPB), Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) is a pest of great economic importance in chickpea and it is the major limiting factor in chickpea cultivation. In severe cases it causes about 75 to 90 per cent losses in seed yield, despite the application of insecticides. Therefore, development of a cost effective and an environmentally friendly approach like improvement of cultivars resistant to H. armigera is necessary for management of the pest in chickpea. Methods: Morphological and chemical components of host plant resistance in chickpea germplasm was assessed under field and laboratory conditions against pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera at hotspot Pantnagar, during rabi, 2017-18 using standard protocols. Result: Observations recorded revealed that germplasm ICC4484 recorded highest phenol (4.73 mg/g) and flavonoid (0.19 mg/g) content, whereas the maximum tannin, protein and trypsin content were recorded in ICC6263 (1.33 mg/g), ICC3137 (19.41 g/100 g of seeds) and ICC372351 (31.83 IU/g), respectively. Germplasm with higher phenol, tannin, flavonoid and trypsin inhibitor content recorded minimum per cent pod damage. Phenol, tannin, flavonoid, trypsin content showed negative correlation, while protein content showed positive correlation with the per cent pod damage by H. armigera.