Integrated management of Helicoverpa armigera on different genotypes of Kabuli chickpea in Punjab, Pakistan

Gram Pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera Hubner) is the most imperative constraint in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) production causing severe losses or there may be complete crop failure in spite of several rounds of insecticidal applications. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of neem application in controlling Pod borer on six different genotypic varieties (AZ-CM2, AZ-CM4, AZ-CM6, AZ-CM10, AZ-CM12 and Noor-91). The experiment was designed in a Split-Plot Design with three replicates. Different agronomic traits were recorded such as plant population, plant height, percentage flowering, physical maturity, number of pod per plant, infestation of pod borer and yield of chickpea. The results showed that plants treated with neem have high population (maximum in Noor-91 with 16.8 plants/m2 and minimum in AZ-CM12 with 2.9 plants/m2, plant height (46.7 cm in AZ-CM4 and 34.7cm in Noor-91), flowering (AZ-CM10 gave 50% flowers after 100.3 days), physical maturity (AZ-CM4 took maximum time (139.7 days) to attain 90% physical maturity while AZ-CM2 and AZ-CM4 took only 136.0 days to attain 90% physical maturity), average number of pods (Noor 91 has higher 19.4 and AZ-CM2 has lowest 12.1). Infestation of pod borer and % damage was found lower in neem sprayed plant. Overall highest yield was observed in plants treated with neem as compared to control and genotype dependent. It is concluded from the results that neem application has a significant effect in controlling pod borer and this effect varies genotype to genotype. Noor-91 was found to be more resistant towards pod borer.