Virulence Characterization of Single-Zoospore Isolates of Sclerospora graminicola from Pearl Millet

Thakur, R P and Pushpavathi, B and Rao, V P (1998) Virulence Characterization of Single-Zoospore Isolates of Sclerospora graminicola from Pearl Millet. Plant Disease, 82 (7). pp. 747-751.

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Abstract

S. graminicola, the causal agent of downy mildew in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), is well-known for variation in its virulence pattern. Nine single-zoospore isolates (Sg 026-Z-1 to Sg 026-Z-9) derived from an oosporic isolate Sg 026 from a pearl millet F1 hybrid cultivar Nath 4209 grown in a farmer's field in a village, Veelad, in Maharashtra State, India, and 3 controls (Sg 026, Field-1 and Field-2) were evaluated for their virulence in 2 experimental runs in a greenhouse. The isolates were maintained on pot-grown seedlings of a highly susceptible pearl millet line, 7042S, in a greenhouse through asexual (sporangial) generations. Pot-grown seedlings of 6 pearl millet potential differential lines/cultivars (7042S, NHB 3, MBH 110, ICMH 451, 843B and 852B) were spray-inoculated with a sporangial suspension (5×105 sporangia/ml) and maintained in a greenhouse at 25 ± 2°C. Data were recorded for latent period (days) and disease incidence (%), from which a virulence index (incidence×latent period) was calculated to quantify disease-causing potential of isolates. Results indicated significant variation in latent period, incidence and virulence index among isolates. The isolates were classified into 4 distinct pathotype groups based on their virulence indices on 6 pearl millet lines. It is concluded that due to the significant variation for virulence in the S. graminicola population infecting Nath 4209, it is recommended that the hybrid be regularly monitored for downy mildew infection in farmers' fields, and be replaced by a resistant cultivar that is genetically unrelated to the parental lines of Nath 4209. This will help delay or avoid development of downy mildew epidemics and the resulting heavy loss to pearl millet farmers in the region.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Subjects:	Mandate crops > Millets
Depositing User:	Library ICRISAT
Date Deposited:	18 Sep 2011 10:33
Last Modified:	18 Sep 2011 10:33
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/1739
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PDIS.1998.82.7.747
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	UNSPECIFIED
Links:	Author

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