Evaluation of Medium Maturing Maize Inbred Lines for Resistance to Turcicum Leaf Blight Caused by Exserohilum turcicum

Abstract

Turcicum leaf blight (TLB) caused by fungus Exserohilum turcicum is most devastating maize foliar disease in North western Himalayan region of the world. The present investigations were carried out to screen the 70 medium maturing maize inbreds against TLB under artificial epiphytotic conditions.. The per cent disease index ranged from 13.3 - 80.0 and area under disease progressive curve was 300.0 - 1591.7 whereas apparent infection rate varied from 0.020 - 0.070. Based on disease rating scale, per cent disease index, AUDPC and apparent infection rate inbreds CML50, CML119, CML577, 36128, CML44 (OP), CML494, 9402-1, Bajim-08- 26, CML112, CML 292, 52303, LM 13, 1336-3, Bajim 06-17, CML563, Bajim 12-6, Bajim 12-6, CML 564, CML 31-1/CM112, V 6642, CML 112 WH 52323, Bajim 06-8, 30R-77, 52060, P358, 52154, 52200, Bajim 08-27 New Line, CML 33, CML 337, HKI1295, CML141 had lowest values for all pathological traits marked as resistant inbreds, whereas thirteen inbreds were reported moderately resistant. Results suggested that the inbreds found resistant to turcicum leaf blight might be utilized in future breeding program. Alternatively, the said promising inbreds might also be used as parents in hybridization in order to transfer the gene for resistance to existing adapted high yielding cultivars.