Yellow mosaic disease (YMD) affects several types of leguminous crops, including the Vigna species, which comprises a number of commercially important pulse crops. YMD is characterized by the formation of a bright yellow mosaic pattern on the leaves; in severe forms, this pattern can also be seen on stems and pods. This disease leads to tremendous yield losses, even up to 100%, in addition to deterioration in seed quality. Symptoms of this disease are similar among affected plants; YMD is not limited to mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) and also affects other collateral and alternate hosts. In the last decade, rapid advancements in molecular detection techniques have been made, leading to an improved understanding of YMD-causing viruses. Three distinct bipartite begomoviruses, namely, Mungbean Yellow Mosaic India Virus (MYMIV), Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Virus (MYMV), and Horsegram Yellow Mosaic Virus (HgYMV), are known to cause YMD in Vigna spp. Vigna crops serve as an excellent protein source for vegetarians worldwide; moreover, they aid in improving soil health by fixing atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic association with Rhizobium bacteria. The loss in the yield of these short-duration crops due to YMD, thus, needs to be checked. This review highlights the discoveries that have been made regarding various aspects of YMD affecting mungbean, including the determination of YMD-causing viruses and strategies used to develop high-yielding YMD-resistant mungbean varieties that harness the potential of related Vigna species through the use of different omics approaches.

Pulses are a key source of dietary proteins in human nutrition. Despite several efforts to increase the production, various constraints, such as biotic and abiotic factors, threaten pulse production by various means. Bruchids (Callosobruchus spp.) are the serious issue of concern, particularly in storage conditions. Understanding host–plant resistance at morphological, biochemical and molecular levels is the best way to minimize yield losses. The 117 mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) genotypes, including endemic wild relatives, were screened for resistance against Callosobruchus chinensis; among them, two genotypes, PRR 2008-2 and PRR 2008-2-sel, which belong to V. umbellata (Thumb.), were identified as highly resistant. The expression of antioxidants in susceptible and resistant genotypes revealed that the activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) was upregulated in the highly resistant wild Vigna species and lower in the cultivated susceptible genotypes, along with other biomarkers. Further, the SCoT-based genotyping revealed SCoT-30 (200 bp), SCoT-31 (1200 bp) and SCoT-32 (300 bp) as unique amplicons, which might be useful for developing the novel ricebean-based SCAR markers to accelerate the molecular breeding programme.

Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) is an important vegetable crop, and its yield and marketable quality are severely affected by the brinjal shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee). The management of L. orbonalis requires exploring new insecticides, and in the present study some insecticides were evaluated during 2015–16 and 2016–17. The results revealed that spinosad 45SC @ 0.5 ml/ l was the best with least shoot (2.03 and 2.0%) and fruit damage (12.66 and 10.62%) with maximum yield (25.39 and 26.99 t/ ha). Chlorantraniliprole 20SC @ 0.4 ml/ l and emamectin benzoate 5SG @ 0.5 g/ l were the next best during 2015–16 and 2016–17, respectively. Thus, spinosad 45SC @ 0.5 ml/ l, chlorantraniliprole 20SC @ 0.4 ml/ l and emamectin benzoate 5SG @ 0.5 g/ l can be recommended as sole application or in rotation for effective management of brinjal shoot and fruit borer.

Callosobruchus maculatus and Callosobruchus chinensis (Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae) are the two predominant species of pulse beetle, found in India, which are generally wrongly identified. Both species are the most economical insect-pest of pulses and can cause huge quantitative losses. Both are sexually dimorphic and can be differentiated based on some morphological characteristics. The culture of both species was maintained separately at 27 ± 1⁰C and 65 ± 5% RH in the laboratory and the observations on morphometry of various developmental stages viz., egg, larval, pupal and adult male and females were analyzed. During storage, both species develop independently, therefore, the interspecifics of C. maculatus and C. chinensis (first case: C. maculatus ♀ and C. chinensis ♂, second case: C. chinensis ♀ and C. maculatus ♂) were tried to develop. In the first case, females of C. maculatus laid very minute eggs all the eggs could not hatch to develop larvae it showing that the eggs of intersex were infertile. However, in the second case there were no eggs produced by the female C. chinensis.

Effectiveness of Biocontrol Based IPM Modules Against Lipaphis Erysimi Kaltenbach (Hemiptera: Aphididae): Rapessed and mustard are important oilseed crops in India. The vulnerability of the crop to mustard aphid,Lipaphis erysimiKaltenbach is the main bottleneck in successful cultivation of this crop. In order to use insecticides at a minimum level, effectiveness of different Integrated Pest Management (IPM) modules were tested under field conditions. The module (NSKE +Chrysoperla carnea) proved most effective in reducing the aphid population in terms of socio-economic and environmental values.