Screening of pea varieties against aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch) under field condition

Introduction

Pea, Pisum sativum L. (2n=2x=14), is the most significant and nutrient-dense vegetable as well as pulse crop (Dhar et al., 2001) [1] . It is a cool season crop belonging to the family Fabaceae. It is grown at higher elevations in temperate zones (Elzebroek and Wind, 2008) [2] . Pea is able to withstand relatively low temperature especially during the early stages of growth but may not withstand a severe continued frost (Prabhakara, 2008) [3] . Typically, vegetable peas are cultivated for their green pods, which are not only eaten as a vegetable but also utilized in soups, canned products, frozen foods, and dried foods (Nawab et al., 2008) [4] . In addition to containing a tiny amount of iron, field peas are rich in protein (23-25%), carbohydrates (12%), vitamins A and C, calcium and phosphorus (Benti and Yohannis, 2017) [5] . In India, pea is produced on an area of 551.4 thousand hectares, with an average productivity of 11.12 MT/ha and an annual production of 5604.6 thousand metric tons. The states with the highest percentage of pea production are Uttar Pradesh (49%) and Madhya Pradesh (16%). Uttar Pradesh is a leading field pea producing state (Anonymous, 2022a) [6] . Madhya Pradesh is the second largest green pea producing state in India. In M.P., pea cultivated area is 119162.29 ha with an annual production 1217086.36 MT and productivity 10.21 MT/ha (Anonymous, 2022b) [7] . Pea aphid is one of the important pea pests which also affects wide range of crops like clover, alfalfa and other leguminous crops. These insects suck the sap from the leaves, inflorescence and young shoots and excretes honey dew leading to the formation of sooty mold which ultimately affects the yield of the crop. It acts as a vector of pea virus (Swenson et al., 1954) [8] . It also transmits other economically important plant viruses (Lane & Walters, 1991) [9] . Aphid infestation results in a 42 percent reduction in pea yield under field condition (Warrington et al., 1987) [10] . The Host-Plant Resistance (HPR) is one of the most effective methods for managing pests. The varietal resistance is the most economic, least complicated and environment friendly approach for the control of insect pest damages on pea. Selection of an efficient, simple and accurate screening method is important in a varietal evaluation program. The objective of this study was to identify sources of resistance for various insect pests using pest number parameters and damage parameters to identify which parameters were consistent and most suitable in separating the difference of pea varieties. Hence, the present research was aimed for screening of pea varieties against aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch) under field condition.

Materials and Methods

The present experiment was conducted at the Entomological Research Field, College of Agriculture, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India during Rabi seasons 2022-23 and 2023-24. Eighteen pea varieties i.e. Arka Ajit, Arkel, Anmol, Green Pearl, Noori, IPFD 12-2, IPFD 11-5, IPFD 10-12, IPFD 9-2, Kashi Mukti, Kashi Nandani, TOP-10, CH-10, JP-885, Rachna, Pant pea-243, PSM-3 and Paras were selected for the study and all varieties were grown in plot size of 2.4 m x 1.8 m. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design (RBD) where each variety was replicated three times. The spacing between row to row and plant to plant was maintained at 30 cm and 10 cm, respectively. All the recommended agronomical practices were adopted for raising the crop. The population of aphids were counted visually on top 10 cm apical twig of five randomly selected plants/plot of each variety at weekly interval starting with vegetative stage of the crop till maturity. The eighteen varieties were grouped into three categories, viz., less susceptible, moderately susceptible and highly susceptible based on the number of aphids/10 cm apical twig. For this purpose, the categorization was done during the observations on the 74 DAS when the population of aphid was at its peak. The scale used for categorizing different varieties is given in Table 1.

Results

The incidence of Aphis craccivora on eighteen different varieties of pea for two consecutive years Rabi 2022-23 and 2023-24 are presented in Table 3 and Table 4, respectively. The overall mean of aphid incidence in both the years is also presented in Table 5 and Fig1. During year 2022-23, the average population of aphids in all the tested pea varieties varied between 4.07 and 23.36 aphids/10 cm apical twig. Among the screened varieties, significantly minimum aphid population was recorded on variety Pant pea-243 (4.07 aphids/10 cm apical twig), which was found statistically at par with Paras (4.89 aphids/10 cm apical twig), whereas the maximum aphid population was recorded on variety CH-10 (23.36 aphids/10 cm apical twig), which was found significantly higher than rest of the varieties except Noori (21.91 aphids/10 cm apical twig). During the year 2023-24, the average population of aphids in all the tested pea varieties varied from 3.65 to 21.96 aphids/10 cm apical twig. Among the screened varieties, significantly minimum aphid population was recorded on variety Pant pea-243 (3.65 aphids/10 cm apical twig), which was found at par with Paras (4.39 aphids/10 cm apical twig) whereas, maximum aphid population was recorded on variety CH-10 (21.96 aphids/10 cm apical twig), which was found significantly higher than rest of the varieties except Noori (20.39 aphids/10 cm apical twig). Overall mean data of both the successive years shown in Table 5 revealed that mean aphid population varied significantly across all the screened pea varieties during both years. It was also observed that aphids (Aphis craccivora Koch) were present in all the tested varieties during 2022-23 and 2023-24. Minimum aphid incidence was recorded on variety Pant Pea-243 (3.86 aphids/10 cm apical twig), which was found at par with Paras (4.64 aphids/10 cm apical twig), whereas maximum aphid incidence was recorded on variety CH-10 (22.66 aphids/10 cm apical twig), which was found significantly higher than rest of the varieties except Noori (21.15 aphids/10 cm apical twig). For the categorization of varieties during this investigation, eighteen different varieties of pea were screened against aphid population. According to the result of both the years, none of the varieties were found to be completely resistant to aphid. For interpreting the results, all the varieties were categorized for their reaction based on average data of peak in both the years (Rabi 2022-23 and 2023-24) of mean aphid population. The statistical formula X ̅ ±  was used to categorized the varieties, with the average value being (X ̅ = 27.05) and the standard deviation being ( = 9.72). As a result, three separate groupings of aphid population -below 17.33, between 17.33 and 36.77 and above 36.77 were identified. Based on this statistical categorization method, it was determined that the varieties Pant pea-243, Paras, IPFD 10-12 and Kashi Nandani exhibited lower susceptibility. On the other hand, the varieties IPFD 9-2, JP-885, IPFD 11-5, Kashi Mukti, IPFD 12-2, PSM-3, Arka Ajit, Rachna, Arkel and TOP-10 were classified as moderately susceptible. Lastly, CH-10, Noori, Green Pearl and Anmol were identified as highly susceptible varieties.

Discussion

The present findings are in conformity with earlier findings by Chauhan et al. (2023) [11] , who conducted experiment to screen fifteen germplasms of pea against Aphis craccivora. The pooled data of two successive years indicated that aphid population per ten cm shoot of field pea genotypes was similar in both years. The pooled results ultimately indicated that genotype HFP 1502 recorded a significantly minimum aphid population and was at par with the Adarsh and HFP 1574. These were followed by HFP 4, IPFD 10-12, and Pant P 476 held a mediocre position. The next order in the effective group was HFP 1545, IPF 18-14, HFP 715, IPF 18-20, Pant P 415, VL 68, and RFP 2010-21 which were at par with each other. However, genotype Pant P 418 was the most susceptible as it exhibited significantly maximum infestation of aphids, but was at par with the variety Prakash, as far as susceptibility was concerned. The current findings are also consistent with the findings of Omar et al.

(2023) [12] who screened 50 field pea germplasms against aphid, 9 were found to be in resistant category viz., Vikas, HFP [13] who screened 50 field pea germplasms against aphid, all fit into the category of moderate resistance. Chouhan et al. (2023) [14] screened field pea genotypes against aphid, who observed that minimum aphid population was recorded on genotype B-22, whereas maximum aphid population was recorded on genotype Double branching.

Conclusion

The result concluded that during the year 2022-23, the mean number of aphids in all the pea varieties was ranged from 4.07 to 23.36 aphids/10 cm apical twig. During the year 2023-24, the mean number of aphids in all the pea varieties was ranged from 3.65 to 21.96 aphids/10 cm apical twig. Overall mean of both years was ranged from 3.86 to 22.66 aphid/10 cm apical twig. Among the eighteen varieties, it was determined that the Pant pea-243, Paras, IPFD 10-12 and Kashi Nandani exhibited lower susceptibility. On the other hand, the varieties IPFD 9-2, JP-885, IPFD 11-5, Kashi Mukti, IPFD 12-2, PSM-3, Arka Ajit, Rachna, Arkel and TOP-10 were classified as moderately susceptible. Lastly, CH-10, Noori, Green Pearl and Anmol were identified as highly susceptible varieties.

Acknowledgments

Authors are grateful to Head of the Department of Entomology and Dean, College of Agriculture, Gwalior for providing necessary facilities to carry out the research work.

References

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