Abstract
Common rust caused by fungus Puccinia sorghii is among one of the worldwide spread foliar corn diseases. The disease has persisted with varying degrees of susceptibility on higher altitudes in Kashmir valley. Disease reaction studies against common rust were carried out in two crosses involving indigenously identified cytosterile source viz.,15C (A) x I-318 (R) and I-401(A) x I-318(R) for all the six basic generations with P1, P2 and F1 having 30 plants each and F2 (300 plants), BC1 (180 plants) and BC2 (180 plants). Analysis of variance of arc sin transformed data in the present study revealed significant differences among all the generations of both the crosses suggesting presence of sufficient variability for prevalence of diseases. Common rust screening indicated the presence of resistant genes in both the crosses which further can be exploited in the production of successful commercial hybrids by using these cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) sources as parents to develop Puccinia sorghii resistant, cost effective and stable hybrids. Key words: Maize, common rust, cytosterile source.
Highlights
Across the globe today, maize (Zea mays L.) is a direct staple food for millions of people and through indirect consumption as a feed crop, is an essential component of global food security
By 2050, demand for maize will double in the developing world, while by 2025 maize is predicted to become the crop with the greatest production globally (Rosegrant et al, 2008)
The observations on the evaluation of genotypes in all six generations P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2 of two crosses viz., 15C (A) x I-318 (R) and I-401 (A) x I-318 (R) against Pucciniasorghii were recorded by calculating per cent disease incidence and per cent disease severity following (0-5) scale of Zummo (1988) respectively
Summary
Maize (Zea mays L.) is a direct staple food for millions of people and through indirect consumption as a feed crop, is an essential component of global food security. This low productivity is due to both biotic and abiotic stresses and among them common rust is a problem in late planted maize grown on higher altitudes of valley and should receive high priority in maize breeding research.
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