Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, (India).
Insect pests, particularly the stem borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) and the shoot fly species greatly affect the quality and productivity of sorghum and pearl millet. Their pest problems are almost identical. Irrespective of the magnitude of damage, the loss in yield of grain and fodder resulting through restricted flow of essential nutrients drained by the pests is of vital concern. Because of the adaptability of sorghum and pearl millet to drier and low fertility conditions, both these crops form an important component of food security in the country. Obviously, there is a great need to provide viable options to contain insect pests and do away with insecticides due to their adverse affects to humans and environment and prohibitory costs. The identification of multiple pest resistant sources, viz., CSH 9, CSV 14 R, SPV 1015, ICSV 197, ICSV 88032, P 311, SPV 1413, SPV 1450, etc. (in sorghum) and MP-19, MP-67, MH-91, HHB-67, Pusa-23, MH-8SS, etc. (in pearl millet) have to a certain extent eased the pest situation. Growing of such cultivars or other pest tolerant sources soon after the onset of monsoon with increased seed rate by 20 to 30 per cent and subsequently removing the dead-hearts due to shoot fly/stem borer and maintaining good plant stand would result in good quality yield and fodder. Use of biopesticides like neem; natural enemies, viz., Trichogramma spp. Aprostocetus spp., Cotesia flavipes, N.P.V. and Bacillus thuringiensis, and application of bioinoculants like Azospirillum and Azotobactor as seed treatment are newly emerging trends being utilized in integrated manner for suppressing insect pests of sorghum and pearl millet. Breeding for resistance to major pests of sorghum and pearl millet has shown great promise. This seed borne technology has great relevance to these subsistence crops.
