Performance of Some Advance Desi Chickpea Genotypes against Pod Borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) Resistance

Abstract.-Twelve advance desi chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes developed at Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, Faisalabad were evaluated along with check variety for resistance against chickpea pod borer (CPB), Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) infestation in a field trial during 2006-2007. None of the tested genotypes showed complete resistance against CPB after studying larval population, pod damage and grain yield parameters. Pod damage ranged from 10.9 to 22.8% among different genotypes. With respect to the check (CM 98) the minimum damage was −35.9% and maximum as 33.1%. Grain yield increase was recorded up to 100% over check in CH 16/02. Comparison of resistance among the genotypes against CPB showed that CM 188/01, CH 07/02, CH 20/02 and CH 84/02 possessed good resistance with increased grain yield over check. Intermediate resistance was evinced in CH 11/02, CH 15/02, CH 17/02 and CH 85/02. While genotypes CM 72/02, CM 246/02, CM 282/02 and CM 98 possessed minimum resistance against CPB. So genotype CH 16/02 showed over all better resistance against CPB, with low larval population, low pod damage and high grain yield