Screening for leafhopper (Empoasca flavescens) resistance in germplasm accessions of castor (Ricinus communis L.)

A field experiment was conducted at RARS, Palem during kharif, 2019 to screen the castor germplasm accessions (100 no.) against leafhopper along with susceptible (DPC-9) and resistant checks (M-574). Out of which, 20 entries did not exhibit hopper burn (hopper burn grade 0 on 0-4 scale) and found highly resistant to leafhopper. Leafhopper population among the accessions ranged from 8.8 to 27.2 leafhoppers/3 leaves/plant, whereas the susceptible check, DPC-9 recorded 67.8 leafhoppers/3 leaves/plant with hopper burn grade of 4 on 0-4 scale. Fourteen entries recorded low leafhopper population (17.6 to 38.8 leafhoppers/3 leaves/plant) with hopper burn grade 1 (upto 10% hopper burn). Leafhopper population was highest in RG-111 (70.6 leafhoppers/3 leaves/plant) with hopper burn grade of 4 (76 to 100% hopper burn). The germplasm accessions that were found resistant to leaf-hopper can be utilized in breeding programmes to develop resistant cultivars.