Varietal screening of Niger against Alternaria blight

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different Niger varieties against Alternaria blight disease. The pot experimental was conducted under net house under artificial inoculation condition at the Plant Pathology Department, RCA, MPUAT, Udaipur during 2013 – 2015. Ten varieties of niger seed received from All India Coordinated Research Project on Sesame and Niger, Jabalpur (MP). The pooled data of 2013 and 2015, the results revealed that among ten varieties Utkal Niger- 150, IGPN-2004-1 and Gujarat Niger-1 were moderately resistant to Alternaria blight disease. However, the IGPN-2004-showed significantly less PDI- 17.60 per cent, followed by Utkal Niger- 150 (PDI- 18.10 per cent) and Gujarat Niger-1 (PDI- 22.88 per cent). Further, the variety RCR-18 and JNC-1 were at par with each other with PDI- 25.64 per cent. Varieties JNS-9, PDI- 26.14 per cent; Gujarat Niger-2, PDI- 26.65 per cent; JNC-6, 34.44; Birsa Niger-2, PDI 39.21 and local land race, PDI 40.72 per cent were moderately susceptible. However none of the varieties was found highly resistant.