Host plant resistance and insect pest management in chickpea.

The major pest problems in chickpea, i.e. pod borers (Helicoverpa armigera and H. punctigera), leafminer Liriomyza cicerina, black cutworm Agrotis ipsilon, aphids (Aphis craccivora), semilooper Autographa nigrisigna and bruchids (Callosobruchus spp.), and their management options (cultural, biological and chemical controls) are discussed. Low to moderate levels of resistance have been identified in the germplasm, and a few improved cultivars with resistance to pod borer and high grain yield have been developed. Germplasm accessions of the wild relatives of chickpea (Cicer bijugum, C. judaicum and C. reticulatum) can be used to increase the levels and diversify the bases of resistance to H. armigera. Efforts are also underway to utilize molecular techniques to increase the levels of resistance to pod borer. Synthetic insecticides, agronomic practices, nuclear polyhedrosis virus, entomopathogenic fungi, bacteria and natural plant products have been evaluated as components of pest management in chickpea.