Deployment of Cicer echinospermum P.H. Davis for resistance to Callosobruchus chinensis L.

One of the best methods for the control of bruchid (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) is host plant resistance because of protecting human health by supplying foods without residues. Number of genotypes of Cicer echinospermum P.H. Davis, a wild and crossable with domesticated chickpea ( C. arietinum L.), is known as limited number, but it has been recently increased thanks to a new collection study. On the other hand, the new collected genotypes of C. echinospermum have not been assessed for resistance the bruchid, Callosobruchus chinensis L. (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) that is a common insect pest of chickpea during storage. In the current study, seeds of C. echinospermum and C. arietinum were assessed for resistance to the bruchid using no-choice test under laboratory conditions. Assessment of 53 genotypes of C. echinospermum and three 'kabuli' genotypes of C. arietinum (Azkan, ACC-100 and ACC-101) for resistance to the bruchid was done using number of eggs, number of emerged adults (number of emergence holes), the damaged seed rate and seed weight loss (%). All genotypes of C. echinospermum were categorized as completely resistant due to no holes on seeds, no adult emergence from seeds and no seed weight loss in the tests. Due to resistant to the bruchid of genotypes of C. echinospermum and crossable with domesticated chickpea, germplasm resources can be suggested for resistance to the bruchid in breeding programs.