EVALUATION OF RESISTANCE IN LOCAL CHICKPEA VARIETIES AGAINST THE PULSE BEETLE, CALLOSOBRUCHUS CHINENSIS L. (COLEOPTERA: BRUCHIDAE)

The present research on the response of pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis on five chickpea, (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties KK-1, KK-2, KC-98, Lawaghar and Sheenghar were conducted under laboratory condition. Two sets of experiment; no-choice test and free choice test were carried out in the Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with four replications. The results were evaluated on the basis of eggs laid/female, developmental period, total number of adults emerged, adult longevity of male and female, adult weight (mg), % adult emergence, percent grain damage and weight loss. Results of no-choice test revealed that none of the cultivar was completely resistant to C. chinensis, however, their response varied significantly. Taking weight loss as a standard parameter, cultivar Lawaghar (4 % weight loss) was significantly least susceptible, KK-2 (28%) and Sheenghar (31%) moderately susceptible while KC-98 (60%) and KK-1 (70%) were highly susceptible. The results of free-choice test also revealed that none of the cultivars was completely immune to the attack of C. chinensis. In free-choice test, variety Lawaghar also received significantly less number of eggs by C. Chinensis.