Sorghum shoot fly, Atherigona soccata is one of the important pests of postrainy season
sorghums. Combining insect resistance with desirable agronomic and morphological traits
is important to increase sorghum productivity. Of the several methods for pest control,
host plant resistance is one of the major components for controlling shoot fly damage in
sorghum.
Evaluation of 90 sorghum genotypes for resistance to shoot fly, A. soccata across
seasons indicated that RHRB 12, ICSV 713, ICSV 25026, ICSV 93046, ICSV 25027, IS
33844-5, Giddi Maldandi, and RVRT 3 were resistant to shoot fly damage in the
postrainy season, while ICSB 463, Phule Anuradha, RHRB 19, Parbhani Moti, ICSV 705,
PS 35805, IS 5480, IS 5622, IS 17726, IS 18368, IS 34722, RVRT 1, ICSR 93031, and
Dagidi Solapur showed resistance in the rainy season, suggesting season-specific
expression of resistance to A. soccata. ICSB 461, ICSB 463, Phule Yasodha, M 35-1,
ICSV 700, ICSV 711, ICSV 25010, ICSV 25019, ICSV 93089, IS 18662, Phule Vasudha,
IS 18551, IS 33844-5, and Barsizoot had fewer deadhearts than plants with eggs across
seasons, suggesting antibiosis as one of the components of resistance to shoot fly in these
genotypes. Five genotypes exhibited resistance to shoot fly and had high grain yield
across seasons
