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Methods for screening maize against downy mildew Peronosclerospora sorghi
Author(s) -
Cardwell K. F.,
Kling J. G.,
Bock C.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
plant breeding
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.583
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1439-0523
pISSN - 0179-9541
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0523.1997.tb00986.x
Subject(s) - downy mildew , biology , sowing , inoculation , agronomy , germination , horticulture
Methods of inoculum delivery and timing of test‐row planting were assessed for efficacy in promoting development of downy mildew ( Peronosclerospora sorghi ) in susceptible maize, and for cost of implementation in terms of personnel and labour. Direct inoculation of pre‐germinated seed of spreader rows resulted in consistent and high incidence of downy mildew infected plants and required substantially less labour and inoculum than the spray inoculation of spreader rows. The optimum time to plant test rows was around 15 days after inoculation of spreader rows. Eight breeding lines were screened for resistance to downy mildew using the revised inoculation method. After one cycle of screening with the new method, resistance levels improved by a range of 0–44% over the previous cycle.