Evaluation of sorghum genotypes for shoot fly resistance: morpho physiological characters

The results revealed that out of 30 entries evaluated against shoot fly, three genotypes viz. ICSB 425, ICSB 422 and IS 2312 were at par with resistant check, recording 35.19% infestation, they were categorized as resistant. As far as the role of morpho- physiological characters of plant in shoot fly resistance was concern, the leaf glossiness mainly acts as non-preference mechanism for oviposition and negatively associated with both oviposition and dead hearts of shoot fly. Seedling vigor revealed significant positive co-relation with shoot fly oviposition whereas non-significant negative co-relation with dead hearts. Highly significant and negative association was observed between trichome density at adaxial and abaxial leaf lamina. Genotypic correlation confirmed that the trichome density on both the surface of leaf lamina and leaf glossiness contributed resistance to shoot fly.