Screening of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) germplasm against major diseases

Abstract

The root rot disease caused by Macrophomina phaseolina is the serious soil-borne disease affecting sesamum. Phyllody, powdery mildew and Alternaria leaf spot are the major foliar diseases affecting cultivation of sesamum. Nineteen entries of initial varietal trial and 11 entries of advanced varietal trial were screened against important diseases of sesame under field (sick plot) conditions. In IVT entries, the diseases severity of root rot ranged between 8.2% (IVT-17-19) to 56.6% (IVT-17-6) and the susceptible check VRI 1 recorded the disease severity of 62.4%. Phyllody disease incidence ranged between 8.7% to 16.3%. The check variety VRI 1 recorded 21.4% phyllody disease incidence. Powdery mildew incidence ranged between 0 to 2 grade and Alternaria leaf spot incidence ranged from 1 to 3 grade. Among the eleven AVT entries screened under sick plot conditions, AVT-17-11 recorded the lowest incidence of root rot (12.3%). The susceptible check variety VRI-1 recorded 58.4% root rot incidence.