Comparative resistance and susceptibility of different chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seed cultivars to Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) is a damaging insect pest of chickpea seeds (Cicer arietinum L.) in storage. Using chickpea seed cultivars that are resistant to C. maculatus is one of the best techniques to reduce the infestation risks of this pest. We studied the differences in the resistance and susceptibility of seven commercial chickpea cultivars (Adel, Ana, Ata, Mansour, Nosrat, Saeed, and Samin) to C. maculatus based on the free-choice ovipo-sition preference, food consumption, life history/life table parameters, and digestive enzyme activity. Compared with other examined cultivars, C. maculatus oviposition preference and food consumption were highest on cul-tivars Ana and Adel, respectively. The developmental times were longest on cultivars Nosrat and Saeed, and shortest on cultivar Adel. Immature survival significantly differed among the cultivars, and was highest on cultivars Adel and Mansour, and lowest on cultivar Nosrat. The highest intrinsic rate of increase (r) was on cultivars Adel and Mansour, and lowest on cultivars Nosrat and Saeed. The amylolytic and proteolytic activities of fourth instar larvae were lowest on cultivar Ata. There were significant negative correlations between the seed hardness index with food consumption, immature survival, longevity, fecundity, r, and amylolytic activity of C. maculatus. As a result, the seed hardness is a main factor responsible for the resistance and susceptibility of the examined chickpea cultivars to C. maculatus, and this feature could be utilized to develop efficient control measures of the pest such as the production of transgenic seeds.

Automated summary

Seed hardness is a key factor determining the resistance and susceptibility of chickpea cultivars to C. maculatus. Cultivars Adel and Mansour have the greatest impact on the development and reproduction of the pest, while cultivar Nosrat has the least impact.