Evaluation of Chickpea, Cicer arietinum (L.) Varieties for Resistance to Pod Borer, Helicoverpa armigers (Hub.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Gezira State, Sudan

Abstract

Pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera- Hubner) is considered as one of the major chickpea pests causing damage from seedling to maturity. Two experiments were conducted at Elmadina Arab, Gezira State during two seasons 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 to investigate the infestation level of seven chickpea varieties (Burgeg, Hawatta, Atmour, Baladi, Shandi, Gabel Marra and Wad Hamid) by the pod borer. The experiments were laid out in Complete Randomized Block Design (CRBD) with four replicates. The blocks were divided into seven subplots (2 mustabs 5m x 2m) (mustabs is a wide , flat topped ridge created by pilling soil) and each variety was sown two seeds per hole having 10 cm spacing between holes. Cultural practices were carried out as recommended by the Agriculture Research Corporation. Tested varieties showed a considerable difference in infestation levels in the two seasons witha significance difference in infestation between varieties on 75 days after planting. Jabel Marra variety showed the lowest infestation by pod borer on leaves and pod in both seasons followed by Shandi whereas, Hawata and Atmore recorded high seed yield despite the high infestation of pod borer. Therefore they may be considered as tolerant varieties and could be used in breeding programs for the development of pod borer-resistant chickpea varieties.