Evaluation of different wheat varieties for resistance against leaf rust disease of wheat in Vindhya, Madhya Pradesh Singh Doomar1,*, Pandey Ayodhya Prasad2, Singh Rajbeer2 1Department of Plants Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture Science & Technology, AKS University, Satna, 485001, Madhya Pradesh, India 2Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, AKS University, Satna, 485001, Madhya Pradesh, India *Correspondence: doomarsingh@yahoo.in
Online published on 21 January, 2023. Abstract Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is a staple food of nearly 40% of the world population. More than 60% Indian population is depending on wheat for different types of food items. It is the plant ever to be cultivated and has played a key role in Man's economic and social development. Three rusts of wheat caused by Puccinia, are very devastating diseases and are major biotic constraints in efforts to sustain wheat production worldwide. These have the capacity to spread by wind over a long distance and rapid production of infectious uredospores under favourable weather conditions. The experiment was laid down in experimental field of plant breeding under field conditions in AKS University, Satna (Vindhya region of Madhya Pradesh) during crop season 2019–2020. The objectives of the experiment were to evaluate different wheat varieties recommended for this region against leaf rust disease and the effect of weather on disease development. In present Rabi crop season (2019–20), weather conditions (temp. and relative humidity) in February and March months remained optimum due to occasional winter rainfall for the development of leaf rust. The disease was diagnosed on the basis of characteristics symptoms of leaf rust that the uredia were confined only to leaves. Disease incidence (resistance/susceptibility) was evaluated as per Mehrotra & Aggerwal, 2014. Five wheat varieties; HD 4728, HI 8737, GW 366, HI 1531 and HI 8498 were found immune, eight varieties; HI 8713, JW 3288, MP 1142, HD 2864, HI 1500, HI 8627, GW 322 and Sonalika were very resistant. Six varieties; JW 3382, MP 1215, Raj 3777, MP 1106, HI 1418 and Raj 3765 were moderately resistant and Five wheat varieties; HI 1605, HD 2967, JW 1203, JW 3020 and MP 4010 were found moderately susceptible while thirteen varieties; JW 3211, MP 1201, HD 2932, MP 1202, HI 1454, UP 2425, JW 273, JWS 17, PBW 343, UP 2338, Lok 1, WH 147 and C 306 were found very susceptible. Most low yielding varieties like HI 1605, JW 3288, HI 1531 and HI 1500 were either immune or very resistant while most of high yielding varieties released before 2000 were found either moderately susceptible or very susceptible for leaf rust. It is also concluded that the farmer would grow these resistant varieties for riskless and constant production even in unfavourable weather conditions. Top Keywords Brown rust, Wheat, Resistance, Weather, Puccinia. Top |