Field evaluation of pumpkin, Cucurbita moschata Duch. ex Poir. cultivars against melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coq.) in the foot hills of Himalayas

Twenty pumpkin cultivars collected fromdifferent sources from all over India have been evaluated against the infestation of melon fly Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coq.) under terai agro-ecological conditions of West Bengal. The cultivars responded variously against melon fly infestation. Intensity of infestation significantly varied from50% to 100% among the test cultivars. Maximum infestation was recorded on cultivar Pumpkin collection, Eluru, followed by Gagan Sardara Para-1, Tripura and Barahmasi, Varanasi, Uttar Prades h. Minimum percent fruit infestation was observed in cultivars Baidyabati, Debgiri seed, Kolkata, followed by Pumpkin collection, Gagan Sardar Para-2, Tripura, followed by Pumpkin collect ion, Pasighat-1, Arunachal Pradesh. The variation in melon fly infestation among the cultivars might be due to bio-physical/biochemical parameters of the fruit.