Comparative response of Groundnut genotypes to bruchid beetle, Caryedon serratus Oliver in storage

Thirty groundnut genotypes (18 of Virginia bunch, 5 Spanish bunch and 7 Virginia runner group) were screened for their relative response to Caryedon serratus using no choice test under laboratory condition (32 to 35⁰ C). The results showed that the number of eggs laid by C. serratus ranged from 19.3 to 115.0 and adult emergence varied from 11.0 to 63.7 beetles. Per cent damage to the kernels was highest in ‘GG-20 (80.7%) and lowest in T-28 (7.6 %)’. First three principle components (PC) accounted for approximately 84% observed variation in the data. Breakdown of cumulative variance revealed the contribution of PC 1 and PC 2 and PC 3 were 46, 21 and 17%, respectively towards cumulative variance. The vertex genotypes were GG-20, AK-303, AK-265, T-28, ALR-1 and ALR-3 of these genotypes, only one genotype, T-28 exhibited less egg counts, adults emergence and % damage while the rest recorded higher values for these traits. Association studies also revealed that genotypes with large seed size may be more susceptible to bruchid infestation.