author(s)
G Sai Karthik and AS Vastrad

abstract
Helicoverpa armigera is an important pest in Indian subcontinent causing huge crop losses in chickpea. Exploiting plants resistance against pests could be handier in controlling the pest which is compatible with other methods of pest management. Hence the present study was undertaken to morphologically characterize various chickpea genotypes for the pest management. Larval population and number of pupal cases differed significantly among the genotypes with BGD 111-01 having lowest larval population (0.62 larvae plant^-1) and pupal cases (1.39 pupal cases plant^-1). Highest larval load was recorded in KAK-2 (1.11 larvae plant^-1) whereas the highest number of pupal cases was recorded in A-1 (1.95 pupal cases plant^-1). Trichome density on leaves, calyx and pod differed significantly among the genotypes. Significant variation in leaf thickness was observed among the genotypes and it ranged from 0.17 mm (BGD-103 and A-1) to 0.36 mm (BGD 111-01). Pod husk thickness differed significantly among the genotypes with highest in BGD 111-01 (0.41 mm) and lowest in A-1 (0.23 mm).