MULTIPLE DISEASE RESISTANCE IN MAIZE

Abstract

In India maize (Zea mays L.) is subject to attack not only by downy mildew (DM) but also by leaf and sheath blights, stalk rots, rust, smuts and ear rots which altogether total about 35 individual diseases. Accordingly, in the All India Mazie Improvement Program consideration has to be given to eight to ten major diseases, including four DMs. Here the results of our work on the development of multiple disease resistant varicties out of Sclerospora induced DM resistant materials obtained through the courtesy of Dr. B.L. Renfro, Coordinator of the Inter-Asian Corn Program are presented. These, together with data on sorghum DM incidence from sick plots at Mysore, India, are listed in Table 1.