Screening of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) germplasm for host-plant resistance against Alternaria leaf blight incited by Alternaria sesami

Abstract

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), is one of the world’s ancient oilseed crop cultivated in more than 55 countries of the world, belonging to the family Pedaliaceae and native to India. Alternaria blight disease in sesame is one of the most detrimental diseases causing significant yield losses to the crop. The disease caused by Alternaria sesami is responsible for the low productivity of sesame in India. Sesame varieties presently under cultivation do not posses any effective field resistance and majority of them are more or less prone to the leaf blight disease (Alternaria sesami). Thus, the present study was aimed to identify the resistance sources in the germplasm of sesame for further exploitation in resistance breeding programme. None of the sesame entry was found immune or highly resistant to the disease. However, 35 genotypes were found moderately resistant to the disease and rest of the germplasm showed moderately susceptible reactions against the disease.