Assessing Resistance in Maize Genotypes to Banded Leaf and Sheath Blight (Rhizoctonia solani f. sp. sasakii) under Artificial Epiphytotic Condition

Bibek Phulara; Shishir Sharma; Suk Bahadur Gurung; Bibek Acharya; Hrithik Khati

doi:10.24925/turjaf.v13is1.2373-2379.7921

Authors

Bibek Phulara Faculty of Agriculture, Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0088-1983
Shishir Sharma Faculty of Agriculture, Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0384-6047
Suk Bahadur Gurung National Maize Research Program, Rampur, Chitwan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0616-9547
Bibek Acharya Faculty of Agriculture, Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0789-3182
Hrithik Khati Faculty of Agriculture, Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1449-4701

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v13is1.2373-2379.7921

Keywords:

Maize, Genotypes, Rhizoctonia, Clustering, Regression analysis

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.), the second principal cereal crop in Nepal, faces severe yield constraints due to biotic stressors, notably banded leaf and sheath blight (BLSB), a fungal pathogen incited by Rhizoctonia solani f. sp. sasakii. This disease manifests devastating yield losses, quantified between 11% to potentially 100% failure under optimal environmental conditions. Host resistance constitutes a cornerstone of integrated disease management (IDM) strategies to ensure agricultural sustainability. In this study, 120 maize genotypes were subjected to artificial inoculation under controlled epiphytotic conditions at the National Maize Research Program (NMRP), Chitwan, to delineate genetic resources conferring resistance to BLSB. Inoculation was administered at the knee-high stage, followed by systematic evaluation of disease incidence percentage (PDI), percent disease severity (PDS), Area Under Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) and grain yield. Twenty genotypes demonstrated superior resistance profiles, exhibiting mean PDI (40%), PDS (19%), and AUDPC (468), alongside a mean grain yield of 3.91 t/ha. Linear regression analysis elucidated that AUDPC accounted for 97% of the phenotypic variance in grain yield (R² = 0.97), underscoring a significant inverse correlation. These genotypes represent novel genetic reservoirs for introgression into elite cultivars, advancing the development of BLSB-resistant maize hybrids to mitigate yield losses in Nepal’s agroecosystems.

References

Ahuja, S. C., & Payak, M. M. (1978). A field inoculation technique for evaluating maize germplasm to banded leaf and sheath blight. Indian Phytopathology, 31(4), 517–520.

Ahuja, S. C., & Payak, M. M. (1983). A rating scale for banded leaf and sheath blight of maize. Indian Phytopathology, 36, 338–340.

Akhtar, J., Jha, V., & Lal, H. (2009). Occurrence of banded leaf and sheath blight of maize in Jharkhand with reference to diversity in Rhizoctonia solani. Asian Journal of Agricultural Science, 1(2), 32–35.

Asif, N., & Mall, T. P. (2017). Evaluation of maize genotypes for immunity against banded leaf and sheath blight disease. Environment Conservation Journal, 18(3), 187–188.

Campbell, C. L., & Madden, L.V. (1990). Introduction to plant disease epidemiology, John Wiley & Sons

Hooda, K. S., Khokhar, M. K., Parmar, H., Gogoi, R., Joshi, D., Sharma, S. S., & Yadav, O. P. (2017). Banded leaf and sheath blight of maize: Historical perspectives, current status and future directions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences, 87(4), 1041–1052.

KC, G., Karki, T. B., Shrestha, J., & Achhami, B. B. (2015). Status and prospects of maize research in Nepal. Journal of Maize Research and Development, 1(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3126/jmrd.v1i1.14239

Lee, S. B., Kim, J. G., Han, M. S., & Han, H. J. (1989). Studies on the occurrence of corn sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani, 1; Influence of growth season and cultural environment on the occurrence of sheath blight disease. Journal of the Korean Society of Grassland Science, 9(3), 174–178.

Meena, B. R., Yerasu, S. R., Gupta, N., & Singh, J. (2021). Resistance assessment and biochemical responses of maize genotypes against Rhizoctonia solani f. sp. sasakii Exner causing banded leaf and sheath blight disease. Australasian Plant Pathology, 50(1), 41–49.

MOALD. (2022). Statistical information on Nepalese Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Singhadurbar, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Paudyal, K.R., Ransom, J.K., Rajbhandari, N.P., Gerpacio, R.V., Pingali, P.L (2001). Maize in Nepal: Production systems, constraints, and priorities for research. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, and Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Nepal

Piparava, D., Pandey, P., Parmar, R.G, Singh, S.K., & Parmar, D.M. (2024). Characterization of pathogen associated with the banded leaf and sheath blight disease of maize in Gujarat, India. J.Mycopathol.Res., 62(4) : 707-711

Rai, D., & Singh, S. K. (2018). Is banded leaf and sheath blight a potential threat to maize cultivation in Bihar. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 7(11), 671-683.

Rijal, T., Dangal, N., & Paudel, D.C. (2013). Management of Maize Diseases through Host Resistance . In Khadka YG et al. (Eds), Proceedings of the 27th National Summer crops Workshop (Vol:2), 18th – 20th April, NMRP, Rampur (329-346)

Sharma, S. & Joshi, L.P. (2021). Current insights on stemphylium blight of lentil with its management strategies. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, 37(1): 247-261

Sharma, S. (2023). Influence of weather parameters on northern leaf blight development of maize incited by Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.) Leonard and Suggs in Nepal. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2023.2222959

Sharma, S., Gurung, S.B.,Yadav, R.K., Phulara, B. & Joshi, L.P. (2024). Reaction and diversity analysis to identify novel genetic resources for Exserohilum turcicum resistance in maize. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, 40(2): 335-346

Subedi, S. (2015). A review on important maize diseases and their management in Nepal. Journal of Maize Research and Development, 1(1), 28–52.

Subedi, S., Ghimire, Y. N., & Devkota, D. (2018). Socio-economic assessment on maize production and adoption of open pollinated improved varieties in Dang, Nepal. Journal of Maize Research and Development, 3(1), 17–27. https://doi.org/10.3126/jmrd.v3i1.18916

Tandzi, L.N., & Mutengwa, C.S. (2020). Estimation of maize (Zea mays L.) yield per harvest area: Appropriate methods, Agronomy, 10(1): 1–18, https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10010029

Tiwari, D.P., Aryal, S. & Sharma, S. (2024). Evaluating the Efficacy of Potential Fungicides for the Management of Southern Leaf Blight (Bipolaris maydis) of Maize. The Journal of Agriculture and Environment, 25: 169-176

Wheeler, B.E.J. (1969). Introduction to plant diseases, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, New York

Assessing Resistance in Maize Genotypes to Banded Leaf and Sheath Blight (Rhizoctonia solani f. sp. sasakii) under Artificial Epiphytotic Condition

Authors

DOI:

Keywords:

Abstract

References

Downloads

Published

Issue

Section

License

Make a Submission

Language

Information