Screening for Resistance Against Northern Corn Leaf Blight (Exserohilum turcicum) in Temperate Maize Lines

Ten early duration maize lines, namely, CM 128, V 327, V 335, V 13, V 128, V 17, V 336, CM 129, V 53 and V 27, were screened against northern corn leaf blight (Helminthosporium turcicum or Exserohilum turcicum) under field as well as under artificial epiphytotic conditions. Five inbreds, namely, V 335, V 13, V 336, V 53 and V 27 were identified as resistant while rest five, viz., CM 128, V 128, V 327, V 17 and CM 129were found susceptible. In the pooled disease scores across the three seasons, the highest mean score of 4.0 was recorded for V 128, indicating high level of susceptibility, whereas, lowest mean score of 1.5 recorded for V 335, showed high level of resistance across the locations. The promising inbreds can be utilized as a resistant donor in breeding programme. These inbreds possessing resistance to northern corn leaf blight can be used successfully in developing high yielding early maturing varieties for the hill region.