RELATIVE RESISTANCE OF SAFFLOWER CULTIVARS AGAINST BLACK APHID, UROLEUCON COMPOSITAE (THEOBALD)

Black aphid, Uroleucon compositae (Theobold) is a serious pest of the safflower crop. It attacks on the tender shoots of the plants and due to its drainage, the plants fade and dry up and heavy damage is caused to the crop. The study was carried out to observe the relative resistance of 5 safflower cultivars against black aphid, Uroleucon compositae. It was observed that the population of aphid differed significantly among the cultivars PI- 40/477, PI-292000 and PI-405994, while no significant difference in population of aphid was observed in case of cultivars PI-26993 and Thori-78. Cultivar PI-40/477 proved relatively resistant against aphid with low population of pest (25.47 ± 5.95 per 6 plants), while PI-405994 found to be highly susceptible with high population of pest (100.04 ± 26.11 per 6 plants). Cultivars PI-26993 (63.35 ± 14.51 per 6 plants), PI-292000 (52.87 ± 11.81 per 6 plants) and Thori-78 (50.84 ± 12.36 per 6 plants) were susceptible to aphids.