Screening of Horsegram Genotypes for Resistance against Yellow Mosaic Disease

Abstract

Aims: The present study aimed to evaluate the screening of horsegram genotypes for resistance to yellow mosaic disease. The disease causes decrease in number of seeds per pods, number of pods per plant. The disease may occur at any phase of plant development. Background: Horsegram crop suffers from yellow mosaic, powdery mildew, anthracnose, dry root rot, leaf spot, rust and cottony stem rot. Yellow Mosaic Disease (YMD) is recognized as the most detrimental viral affliction among the array of diseases induced by the Yellow Mosaic Virus. The occurrence of YMD in pulse crops has resulted in significant yield reductions, which can vary between 50 to 100 per cent. The best method to overcome YMD is the development of disease resistant varieties. Henceforth, an effort has been made to evaluate horsegram genotypes to obtain sources of resistance against YMD. Place and Duration of Study: Field experiment for screening was conducted at Main Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka, India, during summer 2023-24. Methodology: For screening, 148 genotypes were screened under natural epiphytotic conditions. Each genotype was sown in a 2 m row to test the resistance or susceptible reactions against YMD. A susceptible check (BGM-1) was planted after every 10 lines of test genotypes and all along the four sides of the field (infector row technique). Results: Out of 148 genotypes evaluated, none of them were immune or resistant, 12 were moderately resistant, 47 were moderately susceptible, 46 were susceptible and remaining 43 genotypes showed highly susceptible reaction. Conclusion: Identified moderately resistant genotypes can be utilized in YMD resistance breeding programme to develop YMD resistant varieties.