~ 873 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2018; 6(5): 873-878 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2018; 6(5): 873-878 © 2018 JEZS Received: 20-07-2018 Accepted: 21-08-2018 Savitri Haralu Department of Agricultural Entomology, Post Graduate student, College of Agriculture, Vijayapur, Karnataka, India SS Karabhantanal Department of Agricultural Entomology, Scientist (Ent.) All India coordinated Sorghum Improvement Project, RARS, Vijayapur, Karnataka, India Naidu GK Deapartment of GPB, Assistant Professor (GPB), College of Agriculture, Vijayapur, Karnataka, India SB Jagginavar Department of Agricultural Entomology, Professor and Head, Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vijayapur, Karnataka, India Correspondence SS Karabhantanal Department of Agricultural Entomology, Scientist (Ent.) All India coordinated Sorghum Improvement Project, RARS, Vijayapur, Karnataka, India Biophysical and biochemical basis of resistance to pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) in chickpea Savitri Haralu, SS Karabhantanal, Naidu GK and SB Jagginavar Abstract Studies on the biophysical and biochemical basis of resistance to chickpea pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) was assessed under field condition at RARS campus, Vijayapur, Karnataka during rabi, 2015-16. Results revealed that at BGD 111-01 chickpea genotype showed resistance to the pod borer and recorded lower egg load on the crop (5.00 / mt row length) lower larval incidence (2.00 / mt row length) at reproductive stage and lower pod damage at harvest (6.60%) compared to Bidar bold genotype. Further, BGD 111-01 genotype had registered higher number trichome density on leaf surface, higher amount of phenol and lower amount of total sugar, reducing sugar, protein compared to Susceptible genotype (Bidar bold). Correlation study also indicated that negative correlation was found between per cent pod borer infestation with phenol content and was positively correlated with total sugar, reducing sugar, protein and total chlorophyll content. Keywords: Biophysical, biochemical, chickpea, H. armigera Introduction Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), also known as bengalgram, kadale, channa is the only widely cultivated species of the genus Cicer and belongs to the family [1] . It is the most important crop among the food grain legumes and is a source of high quality protein to the people of developing countries. It also helps in replenishment of soil fertility by fixing of atmospheric nitrogen through symbiosis coupled with deep root system. Chickpea is grown in 8.75 m.ha with a production of 8.80 m. tonnes and productivity of 1000 kg / ha [2] . The crop is attacked by nearly 57 species of insect and other arthropods in lndia, [3] . Among them, pod borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is most important and accounts for about 90 to 95% of the total damage caused by all the insect pests [4] . Helicoverpa armigera a polyphagous, multivoltine and cosmopolitan pest and is reported to feed and breed on 182 species of host plants belonging to 47 families in India [5] . Development of improved cultivars with resistance to H. armigera is a cost effective and environmentally benign technology to reduce yield losses [6] . The Host-Plant Resistance (HPR) is one of the most viable components in pest management. This tactic has wider adaptability, economically sound and involves no extra cost to the farmers. The identification of sources of resistance and the knowledge of mechanisms involved is essential for increasing the levels and diversify the basis of resistance and to transfer such resistance into high yielding cultivars. The biochemical constituents present in quantities and proportions to each other in host plants have been reported to exert profound influences on the growth, development, survival and reproduction of insects in various ways [7] . Parameters such as protein, total soluble sugar, starch, phenolic content and protease inhibitors etc., are reported to contribute towards biochemical basis of resistance. Resistance/tolerance pod borer is a complex character and it is controlled by many factors. For effective selection to improve resistance, it is necessary to have an understanding of various associated traits and nature of their association with host plant resistance [7] . Association analysis employed in this study provides such required information. Keeping these points in view, twelve different genotypes were selected in the present study to assess the biophysical and biochemical basis of resistance to chickpea pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner).