Resistance in Bengal gram (Cicer arietinum L.) to the pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) Edward Y.S. Johnson Thangaraj, Gunathilagaraj K. Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu (India). Abstract Twenty-six accessions of Bengal gram, Cicer arietinum L. were screened for their resistance to the bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) on the basis of seven biological parameters, viz., number of eggs laid, survival, development period, adult weight, adult longevity, weight loss, and suitability index. The number of eggs laid by the bruchid was not associated with the suitability of the seed for further development. The accession, NEC-1592, was more suitable for the development with a suitability index of 0.0620 and suffered 62.42 per cent weight loss due to the infestation. The accession, RBH 99, was less suitable for development with a suitability index of 0.0138 suffering only 2.06 per cent weight loss. It seems that the resistance to C. maculatus was due to antibiosis as reflected in lower survival, prolonged development period, emergence of more males and sub-sized adults with reduced longevity. A positive and significant correlation was observed between the survival and other factors like suitability index, adult weight and adult longevity. Survival was negatively correlated with the development period. Top |