Screening Chilli genotypes for yellow mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (banks) and thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis (Hood): towards pest-resilient varieties

99 chilli genotypes were screened for yellow mite and thrips incidence under field conditions at Vegetable Research Farm, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab during 2021. Based on damage score/LCI, mite and thrips population density per six apical leaves, and the percentage of leaf infestation, the genotypes were categorised. The categories included 6 genotypes as resistant, 13 as moderately resistant, 37 as moderately susceptible, 36 as susceptible, and 7 as highly susceptible. 25 chilli genotypes were selected from the field screening and evaluated at Entomological Research Farm under net house conditions in the following season in 2022. The combined results of field and artificial screening identified YB- 583, SL-696, and FLP-640 as resistant genotypes, while PP-418, PUP-661 and SN-721 were identified as highly susceptible. These results suggest that resistant and moderately susceptible genotypes may be used in the development of chilli varieties with resistance to yellow mite and chilli thrips.