Skip to content

Gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) in pulses

Helicoverpa armigera is the most damaging pulse pest in India, capable of 90% pod damage in chickpea and causing >US$645 million in annual losses in chickpea-pigeonpea across the SAT.

Identification and biology

  • Yield Loss Chickpea: up to 90% pod damage
  • Regional Loss: >US$645 million/year in SAT chickpea-pigeonpea
  • ETL: 5 moths per pheromone trap per night
  • Intercrop: chickpea + mustard (6:2) gives highest grain yield with reduced damage
  • Biocontrol: HaNPV, Nomuraea rileyi, Beauveria bassiana effective

Management

ICAR-IIPR Kanpur coordinates IPM combining host-plant resistance (ICRISAT-bred chickpea lines), intercropping (chickpea+mustard 6:2, chickpea+linseed), pheromone-trap monitoring with ETL of 5 moths/trap/night, biocontrol (HaNPV @ 250 LE/ha, Nomuraea rileyi, Beauveria bassiana) and need-based diamides.

References

  1. Sustainable management of chickpea pod borer - review. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13593-017-0428-8
  2. IPM in pigeonpea and chickpea Maharashtra - JIPM Oxford. https://academic.oup.com/jipm/article/6/1/12/2936979