Inheritance of Podborer (Helicoverpa armigera) Tolerance in Pigeonpea

The legume pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera is one of the most divesting pests of pigeon pea. And it is an important biotic constraint to pigeon pea production worldwide. In recent years, development of Helicoverpa armigera populations resistant to insecticides has further hampered the control of measures. Therefore, identification and utilization of cultivars resistant to tolerant to Helicoverpa armigera would have a number of advantages, particularly for a relatively low value crop such as pigeon pea. Resistant/susceptible cultivars would provide an equitable, environmentally sound and sustainable pest management tool. High levels of resistance to pod borer have been reported in wild relatives and some of the cultivars of pigeon pea. The pod wall surface and their exudates play a major role in host selection process of inset herbivores. Based on this objective, in the present investigation, inheritance of resistance to pod borer in parents (Cajanus cajan) and their F1, F2, BC1 and BC2 generations have been studied. Single dominant gene was observed in F2 and backcross generations. This can be incorporated in the adapted cultivar by the simple backcross method of breeding.