Evaluation of pigeonpea genotypes for resistance to pod borer complex

Eighty nine genotypes of pigeonpea were screened in the field for four years (2001 to 2004) to isolate sources of resistance to pod borers. On the basis of per cent pod damage and Pest Susceptibility Rating (PSR), entries AL 1498, AL 1502 and AL 1340 were found promising with mean pod damage of 11.21 to 13.71% (PSR 3 – 3.50) as compared to 17.67 to 26.25% (PSR 4.00 to 5.50) on the check varieties (AL15, AL201 and T21) and 28.21% (PSR 6.00) on the Infester. Therefore, genotypes AL 1498, AL 1502 and AL 1340 may be used as resistant donors in the crossing programme to evolve pod borer resistant/tolerant varieties of pigeonpea.