Assessment of Resistance Linked Morpho-Physical and Biochemical Traits in Mungbean against Sucking Pests

Twenty-nine mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) genotypes were evaluated at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Lam, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, to identify susceptibility and tolerance to the sucking pest complex. Among them, the genotypes COGG-912, VGG 104 and VGG 17-106 recorded lowest population of whiteflies, aphids, and thrips, respectively. A significant positive correlation was observed between whitefly population and leaf length (r = 0.460 & 0.403), leaf width (r = 0.480 & 0.261), leaf area (r = 0.283 & 0.404), leaf thickness (r = 0.434 & 0.459), and protein content (r = 0.606 & 0.456) at 20 and 50 days after sowing (DAS), respectively. Conversely, a significant negative correlation was recorded between whitefly population and trichome density (r = –0.339 & –0.414), chlorophyll content (r = –0.345 & –0.387) and phenol content (r = –0.428 & –0.338). These findings suggest that higher trichome density and phenol content contribute to enhanced resistance against sucking pests. The identified morpho-physiological and biochemical traits can be effectively utilized in breeding programs aimed at developing pest-resistant mungbean varieties.