Field screening of popular jute (Corchorus spp.) varieties against the major pests in West Bengal, India

Abstract

Field screening of eight most popular jute varieties belonging to both olitorius
and capsularis species was done against the major pests in the farm of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal during 2005 and 2006. Among the varieties, JROâ€524 was found to be moderately resistant to Anomis sabulifera and susceptible to Spilarctia obliqua and Myllocerus discolor. The variety JROâ€7835 was moderately resistant to S. obliqua, M. discolor and Polyphagotarsonemus latus but susceptible to A. sabulifera. The variety JROâ€
632 was found to be highly susceptible to M. discolor but moderately susceptible to other pests. The variety JROâ€878 showed moderate susceptibility
to P. latus, A. sabulifera, S. obliqua and Apion corchori but was highly susceptible to M. discolor. Among the capsularis varieties, JRCâ€7447 and JRCâ€321 were susceptible to A. sabulifera but moderately resistant to other major pests. Variety JRCâ€212 was most susceptible to A. corchori but moderately resistant to other pests. The variety JRCâ€4444 was found moderately resistant to S. obliqua, A. sabulifera and resistant against M. discolor and P. latus. Further, the fibre production capacity of the varieties under different pest’s pressure was found higher in olitorius varieties than capsularis varieties. The relatively higher yield recorded under varying pest levels over two consecutive seasons is an indicative of greater field tolerance of olitorius jute varieties.