COMPARATIVE RESISTANCE OF MAIZE CULTIVARS TO CHARCOAL ROT DISEASE

Abstract

Present study was aimed to assess the resistance in maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars against Macrophomina phaseolina which causes charcoal rot in variety of plants. Maize cultivars were sown in artificially inoculated potting soil and the pot experiment was laid in a completely randomized designed for 60 days. None of the maize cultivars displayed complete resistance, whereas most of the
cultivars showed susceptibility to the pathogen. Only three cultivars (FH-1228, FH-1025 and FH-1225) were scored in a moderately resistant group. Among the remaining cultivars, two namely FH-1231 and FH-1042 were kept in moderately susceptible and seven (FH1217, FH-1224, FH-1046, FH-1226, FH929, FH-1232, FH-963) were placed in susceptible group. The plant mortality (62-77%) and growth inhibition index (40%) were significantly greater in susceptible cultivars. Identified moderately resistant cultivars can be used as donors in maize breeding programs for the identification and isolation of resistance genes against charcoal rot disease.