Screening of Mustard Varieties for Resistance against Mustard Aphid, (Kaltenbach)

The present investigation was conducted at Agronomy Farm and Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner (Rajasthan) during Rabi, 2019-20 and Rabi, 2020-21 to screen out the varieties of mustard for their resistance to mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi. The overall pooled mean aphid population ranged from 42.99 to 80.55 per 10 cm terminal shoots of five plants on different varieties. The minimum aphid infestation (42.99 aphids/ 10 cm terminal shoot) was recorded on Varuna followed by Bio-902 (44.63 aphids/ 10 cm terminal shoot) and both were found statistically same in reaction to aphid incidence. The maximum infestation/ 10 cm terminal shoot was recorded on Kranti (80.55 aphids) followed by GM-2 (79.99 aphids), and RH-30 (79.46 aphids) which remained at par to harbour the aphid population. The variability of resistance in mustard varieties in the decreasing order was Varuna, Bio-902, NRCDR-2, Pusa Bold, Laxmi, NRCHB-101, Rohini, Durgamani, Vardan, RH-9304, GM-1, Maya, RH-30, GM-2 and Kranti. The statistical characterization of results revealed that out of fifteen mustard varieties, two varieties Varuna and Bio-902 were found less susceptible to the mustard aphid, L. erysimi. Nine varieties viz., NRCDR-2, Laxmi, Pusa Bold, NRCHB-101, Rohini, Vardan, RH-9304, Durgamani and GM-1 were categorized as moderately susceptible, whereas, four varieties viz., Maya, RH-30, GM-2 and Kranti were categorized as highly susceptible in both years of the study.