In India, pigeonpea occupies 16% of the total agricultural area under pulses and contributes 17% of the total production. Among the yield limiting factors the biotic and abiotic stresses occupies prime position in pigeonpea cultivation. The pigeonpea pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa is emerging as a threat to pigeonpea cultivation in Tamil Nadu. The hidden enemy causes 12-100% pod loss and the medium and long-duration pigeonpea are more prone to pod fly damage. The grubs emerging from the eggs initially scrap the seed surface and later mine into seed to feed the inner contents. The damaged seeds are unsuitable for consumption and also for seed purposes.
Shanmugam, P.S.*
Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India
R. Ramesh
National Pulses Research Centre, TNAU, Vamban, Tamil Nadu (622 303), India
T. Srinivasan
V. Baskaran
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