Holistic approach for the management of podborer complex in pigeonpea

The overuse of insecticides as the principal control strategy has antagonized the effectiveness of entomophagus arthropods as well as the development of insecticide resistant biotypes in many of podborer species of pigeonpea. The development of alternative control tactics to insecticides will facilitate a more sustainable holistic approach to pigeonpea podborer management. With this in mind, investigations were carried out to identify the source of resistance to podborer complex by screening accessions of pigeonpea, use of antixenosis and antibiosis factors in the management of Helicoverpa armigera, evaluation of new insecticides with bio-pesticides against pigeonpea   podborer complex, evaluation of different pigeonpea based cropping systems for its suitability in management of H. armigera and validation of IPM modules against pod borer complex were conducted and the results obtained are summarized.