EVALUATION OF SOME TOMATO GENOTYPES FOR THEIR REACTION AGAINST FRUIT BORER Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) IN MID HILLS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
Loading...
Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Eight tomato varieties viz. Palam Pink, Solan Vajar, Solan Lalima, Naveen 2000+,
Yash, Rakshita, Red Gold and Heem Sohna were evaluated for their reaction to the tomato
fruit borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner). Maximum infestation of fruit borer was recorded
in the month of May. Egg and larval count of H. armigera was made on these varieties. The
per cent fruit infestation in different tomato varieties was evaluated on the basis of number of
damaged fruits and this was correlated with various parameters like fruit length, fruit
diameter, fruit shape, fruit pericarp thickness, fruit weight, fruit yield, plant height, stem
diameter, leaf area, number of leaf hairs, titrable acidity, reducing sugars, total sugars, total
phenols, leaf macro and micro nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, iron,
copper, manganese and zinc). None of the varieties were found to be immune to fruit borer
attack but considerable variation of infestation in different varieties was observed. The
percent fruit damage varied from 15.57 to 45.30 per cent recording the highest fruit
infestation in ‘Red Gold’ which was significantly at par with ‘Heem Sohna’, ‘Yash’ and
‘Palam Pink’ while the lowest fruit infestation was observed in ‘Solan Lalima’ which was at
par with ‘Solan Vajar’, ‘Naveen 2000+’ and ‘Rakshita’. Fruit diameter, leaf area, leaf hairs,
nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, iron and manganese content were found to be positively
correlated with per cent fruit infestation while fruit length, fruit shape index, fruit pericarp
thickness, total sugars, total phenols, phosphorous and zinc content were found to be
negatively correlated with the attack of the fruit borer. However on the basis of maximum
yield per plant present studies conclude that Naveen 2000+ which also was categorized as less
susceptible was found to be the most suitable variety.