EVALUATION OF SOME PIGEONPEA GENOTYPES AGAINST MAJOR INSECT PESTS

Pigeonpea genotypes with different levels of resistance to major insect pests were evaluated for their ability to withstand pod and grain damage or recover from damage based on loss in grain yield under field conditions. Among all the genotypes the highest reduction in per cent pod damage was found in case of T-P-1 from 27.5% in unprotected condition to 6% in protected condition. The lowest reduction in per cent pod damage by pod bug was found in the genotype KAWR-92-2E from 10.5% in unprotected condition to 7% damage in protected condition. The highest reduction in per cent pod damage by lepidopterous pod borer was found in case of PDA88-2E, the grain damage under protected condition was less than 3.5% in all the genotypes while, grain damage under unprotected condition was above 10% in all the genotypes. Highest grain yield was recorded in PDA-87-3E (962 kg/ha), followed by KAWR-92-2E (925kg/ha), PDA-892E (870 kg/ha) and PDA-85-5E (814 kg/ha).