Screening of Soybean Varieties against Girdle Beetle and other Pests

The experiment was conducted on Randomized Block Design in entomology field with plot size of 1m x 5m, row to row spacing 30 cm, replicated three times and date of sowing of this crop 5th july 2010. Total numbers of girdle beetle affected plants were recorded in each plot at ten days interval. In a screening trial with 12 genotypes including three check varieties, girdle beetle infestation ranged from 1.7 damaged plants in L129, H2 P2 and F5 02-2 Sel-3 to 3.7 damaged plants per meter row in genotype G4 P15. L129 with 3.1 larvae per meter row was least infested by lepidopterous pests and F1 P21 with 5.3 larval/meter row was most damaged by caterpillar pests.Similary, genotype L129 with 2.8 insects/plant was least preferred and F 4 P 20 with 3.7 sucking pests/ plant was most preferred by white flies and jassids. Based on overall pest incidence, genotype L129 with least number of girdle beetle damaged plants and lepidopterous larvae per meter row and minimum density of sucking pests per plant was least preferred by these insects recording 31.1 q/ha grain yield.