Screening of Niger Cultivars/ Genotypes for Resistance to Leaf Spot Disease Under Natural Conditions
Rushikesh Wayse *
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Ratnagiri (M.S.), 415 712, India.
Ranapratap Raut
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Ratnagiri (M.S.), 415 712, India.
Jeevan Kadam
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Ratnagiri (M.S.), 415 712, India.
Nandkishor Meshram
Department of Soil Science and Agril, Chemistry, AICRP on Agroforestry Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Ratnagiri (M.S.), 415 712, India.
Paresh Potphode
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Ratnagiri (M.S.), 415 712, India.
Makarand Joshi
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Ratnagiri (M.S.), 415 712, India.
Umesh Phondekar
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Ratnagiri (M.S.), 415 712, India.
Suraj Bobade
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Ratnagiri (M.S.), 415 712, India.
Shrikant Babhare
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Ratnagiri (M.S.), 415 712, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Niger (Guizotia abyssinica L.) is a traditional minor oilseed crop of significant economic and nutritional value, especially in tribal and marginal farming regions of India. However, its productivity is adversely affected by biotic stresses, particularly leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria alternata, which leads to considerable yield and oil quality losses. In the present study, 21 cultivars/genotypes of niger were screened under natural epiphytotic conditions during kharif 2024 to identify sources of resistance to this disease. Observations on disease incidence were recorded using a 0–9 disease rating scale and per cent disease intensity (PDI) was calculated. Based on the disease intensity, genotypes were categorized into different resistance groups. Among the screened cultivars, GNNIG-3 (8.22%), CTPN-1 (4.44%), and ONS-188 (5.76%) were found resistant. Seven genotypes were moderately resistant, nine were moderately susceptible, and two were found susceptible. None of the cultivars exhibited highly resistant or highly susceptible reactions. The findings suggest that the resistant genotypes identified in this study can be utilized in future breeding programs and serve as promising candidates for sustainable disease management strategies in niger cultivation.
Keywords: Guizotia abyssinica, Alternaria alternata, leaf spot disease, genotypes