Screening of coffee genotypes/cultivars for resistance to berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Scolytidae: Coleoptera) in the field

Thirty five coffee genotypes/cultivars were screened under field conditions for resistance to coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) during 2004–05 and 2005–06 at the Regional Coffee Research Station, Thandigudi, Tamil Nadu, India. The mean per cent infestation revealed that two genotypes viz., Coffea abeokutae (0.35%) and Coffea excelsa (0.72%) recorded a damage scale of 1 (>0–1% infestation) and found consistently resistant to coffee berry borer as against the maximum of 12.13 per cent recorded in C. canephora which had a high susceptible rating of 9 (> 10% infestation). C. abeokutae and C. excelsa were found free from coffee berry borer eggs, larvae, pupae and adults and this may be due to the antibiosis mechanism.