Abstract
hen >2500 Pennisetum americanum germ plasm accessions and c. 7300 advanced breeding lines were screened against Claviceps fusiformis all the latter were highly susceptible and only very low levels of resistance were detected in a few germ plasm accessions from India, Nigeria and Uganda. Resistant lines, developed by intermating relatively less-susceptible plants and pedigree selecting for several generations under high disease pressure, were evaluated through a cooperative international multilocational testing programme, the International Pearl Millet Ergot Nursery, to determine their resistance stability. Seven inbred lines (ICMPE numbers) and 6 sib-bulk populations (ICMPES numbers) evaluated at 8-12 locations for 2-3 yr in India and West Africa showed consistently high levels of resistance. Mean ergot severities in these lines across locations ranged from <1 to 7% compared with 30-65% in the susceptible check. These lines were also resistant to smut (Tolyposporium penicillariae) and downy mildew (Sclerospora graminicola) at ICRISAT Cent., Patancheru
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