Influence of Biophysical Characters of Resistance in Sesame Genotypes against Leafhopper (Orosius albicinctus)

Abstract

Host plant resistance is one among the important components essential to combat yield losses caused by insect pests and diseases. Interactions between the host plant and insect are very dynamic and involves development of many defense mechanisms by the plants and counter adaptations by the insects. The present study was conducted at S. V. Agricultural College, Tirupati during rabi, 2019-20 and 2020-21 for a period of two consecutive seasons to study the effect of biophysical characters viz., leaf area, leaf thickness and trichome density in selected sesame genotypes in response to leafhopper population and phyllody incidence. The correlation studies conducted during the study revealed that there is a positive correlation between leaf area and leafhopper population, negative correlation between leaf thickness, trichome density with leafhopper population and phyllody incidence. However, the correlation was found to be significant for leaf thickness during both the seasons i.e., rabi, 2019-20 and rabi, 2020-21. The genotypes identified with high trichome trichome density, leaf thickness with minimum leaf area can be utilized in further breeding programmes in development of resistant source against sesame phyllody.