Screening of Some Maize Cultivars for Charcoal Rot in Northern Region of Telangana, India

Maize, a vital cereal globally, ranks alongside rice and wheat. Among the significant factors curbing maize yields, post-flowering stalk rot (PFSR) stands as a highly destructive ailment. PFSR leads to yield reductions in maize from 10% to 42%, occasionally and may reach upto 100% in specific regions. This emphasizes the potential for elevating India's corn production by developing and cultivating PFSR-resistant hybrids. In this study, 37 maize genotypes were evaluated for PFSR induced by Macrophomina phaseolina, using the toothpick inoculation method at Agricultural College, Polasa, Jagtial. These genotypes consisting of 24 single-cross hybrids, 10 parents (6 lines and 4 testers) and three checks. Screening outcomes showcased a spectrum of disease reactions, ranging from high resistance (score 1) to moderate susceptibility (score 7) against PFSR caused by M. phaseolina. Out of 37 maize genotypes, one inbred line (PFSR 135), three testers (CML 286, CML 451, and BML 7) and eight hybrids (PFSR 51 × BML 6, PFSR 132 × CML 286, PFSR 29 × CML 451, PFSR 70 × BML 6, PFSR 76 × CML 286, PFSR 135 × CML 286, PFSR 70 × BML 7, PFSR 76 × BML 7) exhibited resistant reaction to the disease. These parent lines and hybrids can be exploited further for development of potential maize hybrids with charcoal rot resistance.