Vol. 11, Issue 11 (2022)

Twenty blackgram and 21 greengram genotypes were screened for resistance against pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) using no-choice tests under laboratory conditions. Significant variations were observed in terms of insect biological characters viz., oviposition (NE), percent adult emergence (PAE) and growth index (GI) among both blackgram and greengram genotypes. Based on GI, blackgram genotypes viz., IC 281981, IC 343939, IC 382811, IC 634604, IC 634606, IC 634608, IC 634611, IC 634612, IC 634613 and IC 634617 and greengram gentoypes viz., KEP 68 and IC 634630 were categorized as moderately resistant to C. chinensis. Correlation analysis between growth index (GI) and insect growth parameters on different genotypes indicated that GI had significant negative relationship with mean developmental period (r= -403 and –0.816) and significant positive correlation with percent adult emergence (r= 0.837 and 0.966) for blackgram and greengram respectively. Seed morphological characters like seed width, seed thickness and 100 seed weight significantly affected mean development of the pest in greengram but not so in the case of blackgram. Based on the study, it can be suggested that genotypes categorized as moderately resistant could be used as potential donor for the development of bruchid tolerant cultivars.