Evaluation of wheat landraces of north-western Himalaya against rice weevil,Sitophilus oryzaeL. vis-à-vis physical seed parameters

Abstract

The north-western Himalaya is one of the rich repositories of wheat genetic resources because of the preponderance of locally developed traditional crop varieties owing to high agro-climatic heterogeneity and local socio-cultural diversity. In the present study, 100 wheat landraces of this diversity rich region were evaluated for variability in physical parameters of seed to understand the basis of resistance against rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae. The evaluation was based on the parameter of growth index (GI) of S. oryzae in different landraces. GI was correlated with different quantitative physical seed parameters, viz. hardness, length, width, length × width, test weight and qualitative parameter seed colour were studied to work out if these were related to resistance/susceptibility. Based on the parameter of GI, the six landraces viz. IC266831, IC266872, IC393109, IC392578, IC444217 and IC589276 were identified as resistant. Correlation coefficients between GI of S. oryzae and physical parameters of wheat landraces indicated that GI had significant positive relation with length × width (r = +0.573) and test weight (r = +0.549) indicated that small seeds confer resistance to S. oryzae. Also significant negative relation (r = −0.457) with GI of S. oryzae and seed hardness, indicated that hard seeds were relatively more resistant to S. oryzae.

Cowpea genetic resources and its utilization: Indian perspective – A review

“…Tripathi et al (2015) evaluated 52 accessions of cowpea for resistance to bruchid, Callosobruchus chinensis under no-choice test method and IC328859 has shown higher level of resistance while IC106033 was observed most susceptible. Further, variability in seed parameters viz., colour, shape, texture, length, width, hardness, 100 seed weight and biochemical parameters namely phenols, tannins and á-amylase inhibitor activity was found as the possible factors for resistance against storage pest (Tripathi et al, 2016). Also, positive correlation between GI of beetle and seed length-width ratio, 100 seed weight while negative correlation between seed hardness, phenol and tannin with Growth Index (GI) of C. chinensis was recorded (Tripathi et al 2013).…”

Evaluation of diverse germplasm of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata(L.) Walp.] against bruchid [Callosobruchus maculatus(Fab.)] and correlation with physical and biochemical parameters of seed

“…Resistance of a host genotype against any insect pest is manifested through non-preference, antibiosis or tolerance and it is strongly correlated with the morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics of the germplasm (Tripathi et al ., 2017). In legumes, physical seed parameters such as seed colour, texture, size and hardness are known to play a significant role in the resistance mechanism and functions synergistically with the biochemical factors, in rendering resistance against bruchids (Appleby and Credland, 2003).…”

Durum Wheat Cultivars Express Different Level of Resistance to Granary Weevil, Sitophilus granarius (Coleoptera; Curculionidae) Infestation

“…Stored grains can affect insect pest attacks because of the lack of vital nutrients or the presence of chemical compounds that adversely affect insect development [8,9]. The physico-chemical properties of wheat grain such as grain color, hardness index, seed size, gluten index, Zeleny sedimentation volume, and gluten viscoelasticity are a function of mainly genetic and partly environmental factors [10,11]. Knowledge of all of the above-mentioned parameters of wheat can help to understand the influence that these have on the development rate of feeding insects.…”

“…Under natural and fluctuating storage conditions, the pest can have three to five generations/year and it is the abiotic parameters (temperature and relative humidity) that have the greatest influence on S. granarius development rate and population increase [ 17 ]. The insect resistance mechanisms of cereal grains are complex and depend on biochemical and physical adaptation of storage insects to these properties [ 11 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. The expression of insect resistance in different plant tissue varies tremendously during the lifetime of a plant [ 29 ].…”