<div>Background: The genus Helicoverpa includes the Old-World species Helicoverpa armigera, Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) generally considered to be the most important species within group. It has been recorded on more than 200 host species in India and is most damaging to cotton, pigeon pea, cow pea, chick pea, ground nut, sorghum, pearl millet, tomato and many other crops of economic importance. H. armigera is being polyphagous pest with high reproductive and damaging potential, its suppression became difficult over past decade due to development of resistance to several chemicals. The current study was aimed to isolate and characterize the gut proteinases of Helicoverpa armigera. 
 
Methods: During the period 2016-2018, H. armigera larvae were collected from the field and reared on an artificial diet and maintained under controlled conditions in the laboratory at Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapith, Akola, India. The laboratory conditions were maintained at temperature 28&plusmn;2oC, humidity 75&plusmn;5% and 14:10 hours light: dark period. The gut proteinases were isolated and were estimated by Bradford method. The total Helicoverpa gut proteinase activity, trypsin like activity, chymotrypsin like activity and electrophoretic visualisation of proteinases were done. 
 
Result: Total Proteinases activity was found to be 2.10 U/gut. Trypsin like activity was found to be 1.89 U/gut and chymotryptic activity was observed as 1.81 U/gut. The trypsin like activity was slightly more than chymotryptic activity.</div>

Rearing of Helicoverpa armigera Hubner and Characterization of its Gut Proteinases

<div style="text-align: justify;">Investigations on biological activities of pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) on 20 promising chickpea genotypes using detached leaf assay method at Agriculture Research Station Kalaburagi, UAS, Raichur, Karnataka was carried out during rabi 2016-17. The results revealed that at vegetative and flowering stage there was significantly lesser larval survival (70 to 76.67 %), larval weight (8.37 to 8.90 mg) and damage rate (3.67 to 4.67 of visual Rating in 1-9 Scale) on resistant check ICCL 86111, HC-1 and DBGV-3104 genotypes where as maximum per cent larval survival (86.67 to 90 %), larval weight (13.60 to 14.10 mg) and damage rate (7.67 to 8.00 of visual Rating in 1-9 Scale) was recorded in susceptible checks (ICC-3137, A-1 and JG-11). During pod formation stage, highest weight gain by larvae was noticed on susceptible check ICC-3137 (409.18 mg), on the contrary lowest weight gain by larvae was found on resistant check ICCL-86111 (275.43 mg) also these genotypes recorded more amount of malic acid and trichomes indicating that biological activity of insect was affected through antibiosis mechanism which is one of the component of resistance to H. armigera in chickpea.</div>

Biological activity of pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) influenced by chickpea genotypes

<div>Background: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is cultivated in almost all parts of world covering more than 50 countries spread over Asia, Africa Europe, Australia, north America and South America countries and is the second most important food legumes crop after common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Chickpea has played a major role in realization of pulse Revolution in india making the country near self-sufficient in pluses. Gram is extensively grow in india. Due to its high nutritional value and its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, its more widely cultivated rabi pulse crop. The gram pod borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) is most important pest of chickpea. Many pesticides were so far tested against this pest but due to over use of these pesticides resistance, residue and resurgence problems arises, beside destruction of natural enemies.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: To determination of per cent pod damage and yield of chickpea due to different larval density of H. armigera is an important tool to reduce the cost of cultivation by avoiding the unnecessary use of pesticides. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted in arranged in a completed randomized design with four replications. The pots were placed under natural field conditions and take observation at Research farm, Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, Jaipur during 2015-16 and 2016-17. 
 
Result: The results revealed that least per cent pod damage (29.05, 24.78%) was recorded when the larval population was one per plant, while the maximum pod damage (64.55 and 67.76%) was recorded during 2015-16 and 2016-17, respectively. The simple liner correlation analysis indicated that there was a significant positive correlation (r= 0.989 and 0.999) between the larval density and per cent pod damage. Further, a significant correlation was noticed between larval density and number of healthy pods per plant, reduction in yield, yield per plant, total number of pod and damaged pods were -0.964, -0.976; 0.98, 0.986; -0.98, -0.986; 0.117, 0.126 and; 0.985 and 0.992, respectively during 2015-16 and 2016-17.</div>

Effect of Larval Density of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) on Pod Damage and Yield of Chickpea

<div>Background: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the third most important pulse crop grown all over the world. Chickpea is infested by an average of about 60 insect-pests, of which gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is known to be the key pest. The migratory nature, polyphagous, short life cycle, multivoltine and resistance to insecticides makes H. armigera&nbsp;very difficult to control. In order to develop the resistance chickpea genotypes against H. armigera it is very important to understand the interrelation between the chickpea biochemical constituents and their effect on insect growth and development. 
 
Methods: The biological performance of H. armigera on different chickpea genotypes was studied using detached leaf method and the test genotypes were also evaluated for field level resistance to H. armigera under natural conditions. Different biochemical constituents viz., reducing sugar, protein, total phenol and tannins content in chickpea genotypes were estimated at 30 days after sowing. The relationship between biological attributes of H. armigera reared on different chickpea genotypes and biochemical constituents of chickpea genotypes was computed using simple correlation co-efficient. 
 
Result: Among the test genotypes, the lowest larval weight, prolonged larval duration and pupal duration were observed in GL-13042. The lowest pupal weight and percent of adult emergence was observed in NBeG-786 while the lowest fecundity was observed in GL-13001. The percent pod damage, pest susceptibility/ resistance per cent and PRSR on different chickpea genotypes in the field condition varied from 25.9 to 47.84%, 12.91 to 45.86 and from 4 to 5. In the biochemical constituents, the highest total phenol and tannin content were observed in NBeG-786 whereas the lowest protein and reducing sugar content were observed in GL-13042. Relationship between biological attributes of H. armigera and biochemical constituents in different chickpea genotypes revealed that reducing sugars, protein, total phenols and tannins content showed negative association with biological attributes of H. armigera reared on chickpea genotypes.</div>

<div>Effect of Different Chickpea Genotypes and Its Biochemical Constituents on Biological Attributes of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)</div>

<div>Background: Chickpea is the second most important pulse crop grown globally, it is damaged by over 50 insect species in different parts of the world, of which gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) poses serious threat to production. Temperature is one of the important abiotic factor influencing the growth and development of an organism, degree day (DD) models are very useful in pest predictions as development of insects and plants is temperature-dependent and can predict the biological phenomenon with greater accuracy. 
 
Methods: H. armigera adult population at different chickpea phenological stages viz., from emergence to maturity stage was assessed using the weather based indices viz., growing degree days (GDD) and heliothermal units (HTU) during rabi 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.&nbsp; 
 
Results: At different chickpea phenological stages the pest population varied from 0 to 66.3, 0 to 256 and 0 to 124 with respective cumulative population of 148, 555 and 167 male moth catches during three consecutive seasons. Among different phenological stages, highest population was recorded during both pod formation and crop maturity stage during 2015-16 and 2017-18, while in 2016-17 it was maximum during 50 per cent flowering and maturity stage. Among the three seasons, the GDD and cumulative male moth trap catches were found to be highest during 2016-17. The relationship of GDD and HTU with H. armigera was analysed through linear regression and they accounted for 64 and 71 per cent variation respectively in pest population across the seasons. The weather based indices viz., GDD and HTU may thus be useful for predicting H. armigera adult population at different chickpea phenological stages.</div>

Assessment of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) Adult Population in Chickpea using Weather Based Indices

Insights of antibiosis resistance in various chickpea cultivars against pod borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) under laboratory condtions. The &nbsp;present study was carried out in order to investigate the level of resistance against H. armigera on different cultivars by adopting detach leaf and pod assay. In leaf detach assay, pooled mean of 2012 and 2013, significantly lower and maximum weight gain and percent gain recorded was 101.9 mg (88.5%); 382.3mg (317.4%), respectively for ICCV 097105 and ICCV 07306. During podding stage, lowest pod damage (%) was recorded 55 % (ICCV 92944) and highest pod damage recorded by ICC 3137, LL 550 and ICCV07306 (95 %).Highest pupal weight of one day old pupae was recorded on LL 550 (405.2 mg) and lower pupal weight in ICCV 097105 (202.4 mg). The present result &nbsp;gave clue &nbsp;for future in depth studies on weeds for developing either specific pheromone compound or repellant compound for the eco- friendly management of H. armigera.

Screening for host plant resistance to Helicoverpa armigera&nbsp;(Hubner) in chickpea using novel techniques

<div>Background: Gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) and spotted pod borer, Maruca testulalis (Geyer) are important pod boring insects infesting the greengram, [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] throughout the India. A number of synthetic insecticides are known to be effective against these borers but most of them have been phased out as a result of high toxicity to the pollinators and other biotic fauna, therefore, a group of new chemical insecticides with biopesticides have been tested for bioefficacy against these insect pests. 
 
Method: A field experiment was conducted at S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner, Rajasthan during kharif, 2018 in randomized block design (RBD) with 9 treatments and 3 replications. The observations were recorded of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) and spotted pod borer, Maruca testulalis (Geyer) borers one day before and 1, 3, 7 and 15 days after application of insecticides and biopesticides in each the spray from ten randomly selected and tagged plants/ plot. From the data recorded per cent reduction in population over control was calculated. The per cent pod damage was calculated by counting damaged pods out of healthy pods of greengram. 
 
Result: The spinosad 45 SC (0.01%) proved to be most effective, indoxacarb 14.5 SC (0.01%)&nbsp; followed by fipronil 5 SC (0.01%), whereas, treatments of neem leaf extract (10.00%), Beauveria bassiana 1.15 WP 1X108 spore/ l proved to be least effective. The maximum seed yield of 9.13 q ha&ndash;1 was obtained in the plots treated with spinosad 45 SC (0.01%) followed by indoxacarb 14.5 SC (0.01%) (8.89 q ha-1), fipronil 5 SC (0.01%) (8.60 q ha-1).</div>

​Bio-efficacy of Chemical Insecticides and Biopesticides against Gram Pod Borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) and Spotted Pod Borer, Maruca testulalis (Geyer) on Greengram, [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]

Applications of Helicoverpa armigera Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (HaNPV), Quinalphos, Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk) and Beauveria bassiana (B.b.) as full doses gave hundred percent larval mortality to the test insect, 2nd instar larvae of Helicoverpa armigera. Treatment combinations containing half doses of HaNPV + Btk, HaNPV + B.b., HaNPV + Quinalphos, Btk + B.b., Btk + Quinalphos, B.b.+ Quinalphos, also gave cent percent larval death. &nbsp;Azadirachtin as half dose of application was found to be least effective (50%). However, all the treatment combinations were found effective over the untreated control.&nbsp;

Laboratory evaluation of certain bio-pesticides against the larvae of Helicoverpa armigera Hubner

<div>Background: Global warming and climate change will have a major bearing on population and incidence of insect-pests and their associated yield and quality losses in different crops. In chickpea, a number of insect-pests are observed which mainly limit its production and productivity. Among these, gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a major and prominent pest in different chickpea growing areas of the country. The increased demand of residue free crop produce will definitely motivate farmers to select alternative management strategies instead of insecticides for management of insect-pests. Therefore, the current study aimed to determine the effect of different chickpea varieties at different dates of sowing on the population and incidence of gram pod borer. 
 
Methods: The present study was conducted at Regional Research Station, PAU-Gurdaspur during Rabi seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21 to determine the effect of chickpea varieties (PBG 7 and PBG 8) and different sowing dates viz. 25th&nbsp;October, 05, 15 and 25th&nbsp;November on the larval population and per cent pod borer infestation of Helicoverpa armigera.&nbsp; 
 
Result: It was concluded that both the tested chickpea varieties had non-significant effect on population of pod borer, pod damage and gram yield. However, the pod borer&rsquo;s larval population and pod infestation decreased across sowing dates from last week of October to last week of November. The mean larval population and incidence of H. armigera decreased with a delay in time of sowing i.e. 7.88 and 5.29 larvae/3 rows and 62.96 and 42.27% pod damage in the 25thOctober and 25thNovember sown crop, respectively. The maximum grain yield (17.45 q/ha) was obtained from 15th November sown crop.</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</div>

Impact of Chickpea Varieties and Sowing Dates on Pod Borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)

<div>Background: Pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) and pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa (Malloch) are important pod boring insects infesting the pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan (Linn.) Millsp. throughout the world. A number of synthetic insecticides are known to be effective against these borers but most of them have been phased out as a result of high toxicity to the pollinators and other biotic agencies, therefore, a new molecule, chlorantraniliprole has been tested for bioefficacy against these insect pests. 
 
Methods: The experiment was conducted during Kharif, 2017 in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 7 treatments and 3 replications. Observations were made to record pod borer, H. armigera and pod fly, M. obtusa maggot present before treatment imposition and 3, 7 and 14 days after each spray from five randomly selected and tagged plants/ plot. From the data recorded per cent reduction in population over control was calculated. The per cent pod damage was calculated by counting damaged pods out of healthy pods. The numbers of coccinellids and spiders were recorded on 5 randomly selected plants before treatment and 7 and 14 days after spray (DAS) in each treatment. 
 
Result: The chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC was found most effective @ 200 ml/ha which was found at par with chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 150 ml/ha and chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC (Market sample) @ 150 ml/ha for suppression pod borer, H. armigera and pod fly, M. obtusa. The yield was maximum and at par in the chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 200 ml/ha (18.25 q ha-1), chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 150 ml/ha (17.82 q ha-1) and chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC (Market sample) @ 150 ml/ha (17.42 q ha-1). Predatory population of coccinellids and spiders after imposing the treatments declined to some extent at seven days after treatment, however, increased after 14 days. Based on the results, the use of chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 150 ml/ha was most effective to control pod borer and pod fly in pigeonpea crop.</div>

<div>Bioefficacy of Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC Against Pod Borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) and Pod Fly, Melanagromyza obtusa (Malloch) in Pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan (Linn.) Millsp.</div>