Screening of Rice Genotypes for Resistance to Leaf Folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenee

In recent years, leaf folder incidence has been increasing in all rice ecosystems and is abundant during the wet season. Presently farmers are dependent on the use of toxic chemical pesticides alone for their management. Hence, an attempt was made to nominate genotypes developed at Agriculture Research Station, Bapatla for screening against leaf folder under the AICRIP entomology program. Of the 16 genotypes evaluated at multi- locations during the Kharif season for two years, 2020 and 2021, BPT 2699 was found promising in 2-8 locations. BPT 3034 and BPT 3059 were promising in 2-6 locations, four entries BPT 2677, BPT 2954, BPT 3049 and BPT 2932 were promising in 3- 5 locations. The majority of these entries consistently outperformed the check variety (TN1) for leaf folder resistance and can be used as donors in future breeding programmes.