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Bio-physical and Bio-chemical Basis of Host Plant Resistance of Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] Genotypes Against Spodoptera litura (Fabricius)

Khushbu Kumawat, Shivpal Solanki, Lokesh Kumar Meena, DK Suryawanshi, Anand Harshana

Published 9/19/2026 · pp. 65–73

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Abstract

A field trial was conducted to evaluate the field resistance against Spodoptera litura in eighteen genotypes of soybean at Research Farm of Department of Entomology, ICAR- Indian Institute of Soybean Research, Indore (M.P.) during the Kharif 2024. The results revealed that six genotypes viz., CAT-146, G5P22, CAT-47, F4P21, F3P18, and CAT 2503 found effective to combat the menace of S. litura, resulted in minimum larval population. Further, biochemical and biophysical analysis found highest phenol content (CAT-47: 23.13 mg/g), peroxidase (CAT-146: 0.75 min-1g-1), polyphenol (CAT-146: 0.32 min-1g-1), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (F4P21: 1.73 mg/g), protein (CAT-146 and CAT-47: 3.95 mg/g), trichome density on midrib (F4P21: 35.9 mm2), leaf blade (CAT 2503: 33.5 mm2), and leaf lamina (CAT 2503: 33.1 mm2), and specific leaf weight (CAT-146 and CAT-2503: 0.41 g/cm2) for resistant genotypes. On contrary, the susceptible genotypes had higher reducing sugar (JS335: 29.36 mg/g), relative water content (JS335: 34.35 %), chlorophyll a (JS 93-05: 21.52 mg g-1 fw), chlorophyll b (JS 93-05: 13.59 mg g-1 fw) and total chlorophyll (JS 93-05: 35.11 mg g-1 fw). These biophysical and biochemical components in soybean can be effectively utilized in breeding for resistance against S. litura. The larval population of S. litura has shown significant positive correlation with reducing sugar (0.751**), relative water content (0.871**), chlorophyll A (0.668**), chlorophyll B (0.698) and total chlorophyll (0.707**), while significant negative correlation was observed for phenol (-0.710**), peroxidase (-0.647**), polyphenol oxidase (-0.637**), protein (-0.771**), trichome density midrib (-0.695**), leaf blade (-0.742**), leaf lamina (-0.779**) and specific leaf weight (-0.594**). Non-significant correlation was observed between S. litura larval population and PAL (-0.504).

Keywords

Host plant resistanceBiochemical and biophysical analysisSpodoptera lituraSoybean

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