Evaluation of Some Pigeonpea Genotypes for Their Response against Pod Fly, Melanagromyza obtusa (Malloch) Infestation

A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Badnapur (Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMKV), Parbhani), India during Kharif season of 2015-2016. A total of 20 pigeonpea genotypes were screened for their response against Melanagromyza obtusa Malloch infestation. The present study revealed that the first incidence of M. obtusa maggots and pupae was observed in the 44th standard meteorological week (39.87 maggots and 10.33 pupae per 100 pods) and attained its peak on 03rd standard meteorological week with 120.78 maggots and 55.05 pupae per 100 pods, thereafter its population declined due to maturity of grains and reached to minimum on 07th standard meteorological week in all the genotypes. The highest population of M. obtusa was recorded in BRG-2 (277.64 maggots and 101.26 pupaeper 100 pods) and followed by BRG-1 (206.60 maggots and 81.93 pupae per 100 pods) indicating that the genotypes were highly susceptibile to M. obtusa. Wherein, the lowest population of M. obtusa was recorded in Cajanus cajanifolius (3.98 maggots and 0.75 pupae per 100 pods) and followed by V-127 (10.35 maggots and 3.38 pupae per 100 pods) indicating their high level of resistance against M. obtusa, while no population of M. obtusa was observed in Cajanus scarabaeoides indicating that the genotype is having most resistance against M. obtusa infestation and it can be used in breeding programmes in order to produce resistant cultivars for the benefit of farmers.