Panickar Bindu

Biology & Management of Clavigralla Gibbosa in Pigeonpea Panickar Bindu

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) Mill. is one of the major grain legume crop of the semi-arid tropics. It is a rich source of protein as seed contain 18 to 26 per cent protein. It is also rich in iron, iodine and amino acids like lysine, tyrosine, cysteine and arginine. Its decorticated halves known as dal are an integral part of the diet of vegetarian people in Gujarat. More than 250 species of insects pests attacking pigeonpea crop. Both adults and nymphs of Clavigralla spp feed on pigeonpea by piercing the pod wall and extracting nutrients from the developing seeds. Damaged seeds are dark and shriveled and they are difficult to distinguish from those damaged by drought. For this reason, bug damage is frequently underestimated. Damaged seeds do not germinate and are not acceptable as human food. The pod bug was appeared in the field at the time of pod formation and persisted till the harvest of the crop.