Characterization of Antixenosis and Antibiosis to Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) Asia-I in Blackgram Genotypes

Abstract

Present investigation was aimed to evaluate the potential resistance mechanisms to whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Asia-I in ten selected blackgram genotypes under green house and laboratory conditions. Total ten genotypes showed differential response, resistant to highly susceptible were selected from the preliminary field screening during rabi 2020-21 and 2021-22. We evaluated the adult attractiveness, ovipositional preference, incubation period, duration of nymphal stages, total duration of juvenile phase and nymphal survival (%). The results showed that among the ten genotypes, GBG-1 and VBN-6 showed the least preference to adult attractiveness and oviposition in free choice test, indicating antixenosis mechanism of resistance. The genotype GBG-1 showed prolonged the developmental period from egg to adult (~10 days) and lowest percent of nymphal survival (35.0%) followed by VBN-6 (~8 days and 37.50%), suggesting high levels of Antibiosis. These genotypes may be helpful in breeding programs aimed at developing commercial cultivars resistant to whitefly.