The pod borer caused 50 per cent of pest-induced losses for all crops in India during 1997/98 cropping season.
It is estimated that the crop losses cost the country $ 475 million, despite the use of insecticides worth $ 211 million, an ICRISAT director-general William Dar.
Dar said in a release here taht the successful genetic modification of pigeonpea, enabling the crop to resist Helicoverpa attack, signifies a major scientific breakthrough.
