Screening of plant morphological characteristics of safflower against Safflower aphid

Abstract

The investigation entitled “Screening of plant morphological characteristics of safflower against safflower aphid” was carried out at the Department of Agricultural Entomology, VNMKV, Parbhani, during Rabi 2021-22. In screening studies, 15 safflower genotypes were screened against the safflower aphid under field conditions. Based on foliage drying grade, aphid population, plant morphological characters and yield contributing characters it is observed that the safflower genotype entries having more spines, green, thin and waxy leaves, thin capitula, small sized seeds sheltered less aphid population than genotype entries of non-spiny, erect plant type, leathery leaves with succulent stems. Considering the all plant morphological characters more spiny genotypes viz., SSF-682, SSF-695, SSF-714, SSF-704, SSF-734 were observed resistance against safflower aphid compared to national check A-1. Mostly the plant morphology plays crucial role in the aphid resistance mechanism.