Evaluation of sunflower diversified Cytoplasmic Male Sterile lines and their hybrids for resistance to powdery mildew [Erysiphe cichoracearum DC.]

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is one of the important oil seed crops both in tropical and subtropical regions. Powdery mildew is a serious problem on the crop. Use of resistant hybrids is the best way for the management of the disease. In the field screening of 90 hybrids along with parents to powdery mildew, it was found that three parental lines viz., CMS E 002-92 (6.67%), R-5 (10.00%) and R-77-2 III (10.00%) as resistant, while other four parents viz., CMS E 002-91 (13.33%), CMS AGR-6 (16.67%), CMS-PRUN 29 (18.33%) and R-393 Br (12.67%) as moderately resistant to the disease. Among the hybrids, none of them were resistant to powdery mildew. However three hybrids CMS DV-10 x R-393Br, CMS DV-10 x R-5 and (77A x 72B) x (R-393Br) were found moderately resistant to disease. Remaining six parental lines and 31 hybrids showed moderate susceptibility.