Biochemical and biophysical responses against Helicoverpa armigera Hub. (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) in chickpea

Abstract

In the rabi season of 2021-22, the experiment was conducted at Department of Agricultural Entomology's Experimental Research Farm at VNMKV, Parbhani aiming at investigating the potential of various chickpea traits and biochemical factors to resist the gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera Hub.). The study sought to establish positive results concerning chickpeas' ability to resist this pest, a significant challenge to chickpea cultivation. The experiment measured chickpea traits such as pod length-width-wall thickness and pod trichome density-length, as well as biochemical factors like malic acid and oxalic acid. The highest pod length was recorded on BDNG 797 (1.79 cm), which was at par with ICC 506 (1.79 cm), ICCV 10 (1.71), KAK 2 (1.70 cm), and ICCL 86111 (1.69). The highest percentage of malic acid content was observed in ICCL 86111 (1.362%), while ICC 3137 had the lowest oxalic acid level, which was substantially lower than all other genotypes examined. The research found an exceptionally substantial correlation with the amount of malic acid in the chickpea genotypes and the mean pod damage (r = -0.736) and the mean larval population (r = -0.680). Similarly, oxalic acid exudates on the chickpea genotypes showed a potent and negative association with the mean larval population (r = -0.692). In summary, the study findings suggest that malic or oxalic acid content in chickpea genotypes could be potential factors in chickpea resistance to the (H. armigera) gram pod borer.