Screening of promising sugarcane genotypes for resistance to red rot disease (Colletotrichum falcatum) in eastern Uttar Pradesh

Red rot resistance is a pre-requisite in a promising variety for its release to a particular region of the country. Screening for red rot resistance is being taken up in most of the sugarcane research programme. An experiment was conducted at GSSBRI, Seorahi, in spring planting session during 2015–16 and 2016–17. A total of 44 promising varieties in initial and advance varietal trails both(early and midlate) were planted with pathological checks and evaluated by plug and nodal cotton swab methods of inoculation. The results revealed that out of 44 varieties evaluated against red rot, 35 varieties were rated as MR, 2 varieties were rated as MS, 01 variety was rated as susceptible, 02 varieties were rated as MS to Cf07 and MR to Cf08, 02 varieties were rated as susceptible to Cf07 and MS to Cf08, while 02 varieties were rated as MR to Cf07 and MS and S to Cf08 by plug method. Same set of genotypes evaluated against red rot disease by nodal method revealed that 40 varieties were rated as resistant, 01 variety was rated as MS and 01 variety was rated as resistant to Cf07 and MS to Cf08, while 02 genotypes showed susceptible reaction. It is suggested that the varieties found resistant and moderately resistant to red rot can be utilized in future breeding programmes for developing red rot resistant clones.