author(s)
G Venu Gopal, K Vijaya Lakshmi, B Sarath Babu and P Kishore Varma

abstract
Selection of an efficient, simple and accurate screening method is important in a varietal evaluation programme. The objective of this study was to evaluate reaction of chilli accessions to thrips infestation. Chilli thrips Scirtothrips dorsalis population number and per cent leaf curl were most suitable in separating the difference of chilli accessions. The accessions viz., EC-596952, EC-390033 and EC-391082 were least preferred by the insect pest and colonized few thrips (43.40 to 45.20 thrips / 10 terminal) and two accessions viz., EC-599976 and EC-599994 were highly susceptible to the pest incidence. The leaf curl index was taken on 50, 70 and 90 days after transplantation. The accessions such as EC-596952, EC-391082 and EC-390033 showed least per cent leaf curl index whereas, accessions EC-599976 and EC-599994 recorded highest per cent leaf curl index.