Screening of Bhendi Accessions (Abelmoschus esculenthus [L.] moench) against the fruit borer, Earias spp. (Noctuidae; Lepidoptera)

The study on screening of bhendi accessions against fruit borer (Earias spp.) infestation was conducted by evaluating 55 numbers of IC entries with 6 different varieties/hybrids as a local standard check to assess their performance in naturally infested field conditions in augmented block design with three replications. The identified resources of accessions further subjected to the artificial screening to cross verify their reaction against the incidence of sucking insect pests, viz., leaf hopper (Amrasca biguttula biguttula) and whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). Out of 55 IC accessions screened, the entries viz., IC 27821-A, IC 42531, IC 22237-C, IC 42485-B, IC 43743, IC 43746-D, IC 45728 and IC 45804 were found to be the best tolerant sources for the management of fruit borer, Earias spp. with the cross resistance to leaf hopper and whitefly. The results on the artificial screening indicated that the identified tolerant sources were registered the minimum leaf hopper index (<3.5) and whitefly population (<2.0/leaf) when compared with the susceptible checks like Arka anamika, Parbhani kranti, Punjab 8 and Punjab padmini. The tolerance nature of the identified entries by recording < 30 per cent fruit damage with the trichome density of > 80/cm² is in tune with the tolerant checks i.e., CO 4 and Arka abhay. Hence, the present investigation conclude that, these identified 8 accessions can be utilized in further breeding programmes to develop varieties/hybrids resistant to major insect pests of bhendi with good phenological traits.

Highlights

• The bhendi fruit borers, Earias vittella Fabricius and Earias insulana Boisduval may cause 40-50 per cent reduction in yield.

• Farmers rely solely on the chemical insecticides for the management of fruit borers in bhendi.

• Plant characteristics might affect the target insect’s biology through morphological and biochemical mechanisms.

• Identification of insect resistant or tolerant donors is economically, ecologically and environmentally advantageous.