Evaluations of Maize Genotypes Against Banded Leaf and Sheath Blight Under Natural and Artificial Epiphytotic Conditions

Abstract

Rhizoctonia solani, causal agent of banded leaf and sheath blight (BLSB) is widely distributed in the India in maize causing severe yield losses. In this study, a set was obtained by crossing ten QPM inbred lines in 10 × 10 diallel fashion (excluding reciprocals). In total sixty lines including parents, F₁'s, procured hybrids and standard check (HQPM-1 and Vivek QPM-9) were evaluated against banded leaf and sheath blight of maize under field conditions and artificial conditions during kharif 2016 and 2017, respectively. Data on reaction of maize genotypes to banded leaf and sheath blight under natural epiphytotic conditions revealed that the six parents viz., CML161, CML189, BAJIMQ-08-27, CML193, CML162 and CML171, one hybrid HQPM-7, one QPM check Vivek QPM-9 and forty one crosses were found to be moderately resistant. Under artificial epiphytotic condition thirteen crosses viz., BAJIMQ-08-27 × CML162, BAJIMQ-08-27 × CML161, CML162 × CML161, CML163 × CML161, CML170 × CML163, BAJIMQ-08-26 × CML171, CML193 × BAJIMQ-08-27, BAJIMQ-08-26 × CML161, CML193 × CML161, BAJIMQ-08-26 × CML163, BAJIMQ-08-27 × CML171, CML180 × CML161 and CML189 × CML163 showed moderately resistant reaction to BLSB; however, one cross was found susceptible (CML180 × BAJIMQ-08-27). These lines identified to possess low disease incidence score against BLSB in the present study could be used successfully in developing genotypes having desirable level of resistance in disease endemic areas to aim for sustainable productivity.