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Estimation of Combining Ability for Resistance to Fusarium Stalk Rot in Grain Sorghum
Author(s) -
Tesso Tesfaye,
Claflin Larry E.,
Tuinstra Mitchell R.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci2004.1195
Subject(s) - biology , hybrid , sorghum , stalk , inoculation , fusarium , plant disease resistance , horticulture , agronomy , genetics , gene
Fusarium stalk rot (caused by Fusarium spp.) is an important disease of grain sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. The objectives of this study were to identify genetic sources of Fusarium stalk rot resistance and estimate combining ability. Six sorghum R‐lines, representing commercial parent lines and potential sources of stalk rot resistance, Tx2737, Tx435, SC33, SC35, SC599 and SC1158, and three standard seed parents, ASA3042, AWheatland, and ARedlan, were intercrossed in a Design II mating scheme. The inbred parent lines and corresponding hybrids were evaluated in field trials at Manhattan and Hesston, KS, in 1999 and 2000. Three randomly selected plants in each plot were artificially inoculated in the pith tissue of the basal stalk with liquid cultures of F proliferatum at 14 d after flowering. One additional plant in each plot was inoculated with distilled water as a control. At 28 d after inoculation, plants were harvested and scored for disease severity. Significant differences in disease reactions were noted among parent lines and hybrids. Among hybrids, significant male and female parent effects and interactions were detected. SC599 consistently had very low mean disease scores, followed by SC1158. Hybrids produced with SC599 were also highly resistant, indicating that genes for resistance had a dominant mode of inheritance in this genotype. SC599 represents an excellent source of resistance to F. proliferatum for use in breeding programs.