Annals of Plant Protection Sciences

Seven biochemical constituents viz., proteins, reducing sugars, phenols, tannins, crude fibre, silica and fat were studied in relation to expression of varietal reaction against borer complex in 19 selected genotypes of field bean. Of the various biochemical components, protein content and reducing sugar exhibited significant positive correlations with pod damage by deferent pod borers in the different genotypes. The most susceptible genotype, GA 2–27 with 49% damage had comparatively high amount of protein content (27.5%) and reducing sugars (1.13 mg g⁻¹), while the resistant genotype (HA-4, white) had less content of protein 20.1% and sugars 0.60 mg g⁻¹. The correlation coefficients between total phenols/tannins/fibre/silica/fat in pods and pod damage due to pod borers were negative and significant. The genotype HA-4 (white) had comparatively high amount of phenols (1.79 mg g⁻¹), tannins (1.23 mg g⁻¹), fibre (16.9%) and silica (0.7%).