Screening of Some Local and Improved Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) Genotypes Against Brinjal Shoot and Fruit Borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guenée) via Field Trial and Biochemical Assays

Abstract

Brinjal shoot and fruit borer (BSFB), Leucinodes orbonalis Guenée, is one of the most destructive insect pests of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) in brinjal-growing countries worldwide. To develop an eco-friendly approach for managing this pest, the present study aimed to identify promising brinjal genotypes with moderate to high resistance against BSFB infestation. A total of ten local and improved brinjal genotypes were evaluated at the Germplasm Centre of Khulna University, Bangladesh, during the period from September 2020 to May 2021. The experiment was conducted following a single-factor Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Statistical analysis revealed significant variation among the tested genotypes in their response to BSFB infestation. Among the genotypes, BARI Bt Begun-4 exhibited the highest level of resistance, showing the lowest shoot and fruit infestation rates. In contrast, the remaining genotypes were found to be susceptible to BSFB attack. Regarding fruit characteristics, BARI Hybrid Begun-4 produced the highest volume index, while Local Cultivar-2 showed the highest shape index. BARI Hybrid Begun-4 also had greater mesocarp and pericarp thickness than the other genotypes; however, it was not resistant to BSFB infestation. The findings indicate that BARI Bt Begun-4 can be effectively utilized as an eco-friendly option for managing BSFB without additional pest-control costs. However, its productivity and fruit quality attributes were comparatively lower than those of BARI Hybrid Begun-4, suggesting the need for integrated pest management strategies to achieve both high yield and effective pest control. Further economic analysis is recommended to evaluate the practical advantages of cultivating BARI Bt Begun-4 compared with BARI Hybrid Begun-4 under farmers’ field conditions.