Screening of Brinjal (Solatium melongena L.) Cultivars Against Shoot and Fruit Borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guen.) at Medium High Altitude Hills of Meghalaya

Twenty nine cultivars of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) were screened against the shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guen.) during 1994 and 1995 at medium high altitude hills of Meghalaya. None of the 29 cultivars was found resistant to L. orbonalis in shoot damage but three, five and eight cultivars were found as highly tolerant, tolerant and moderately tolerant to the pest, respectively. However, 11 and two cultivars were found susceptible and highly susceptible, respectively. Kuchia (HRS -4) was found to be highly tolerant to the pest followed by Pithoria and Lata Begun. Studies revealed that Kuchia (HRS-4) was found as highly tolerant followed by Lata Begun, Pithoria, PAU Sel-4, JC-3 and SM-609, rest 13 cultivars were found susceptible and ten highly susceptible. Kuchia (HRS-4) was found to have significantly lower infestation of shoot and fruit borer and may be used in breeding programme to develop the resistant/tolerant varieties.