Evaluation of promising genotypes of pigeon pea against dry root rot caused by Rhizoctonia bataticola and stem canker caused by Macrophomina phaseolina

Dry root rot (Rhizoctonia bataticola) and stem canker (Macrophomina phaseolina) are the most destructive diseases and cause severe yield loss in pigeon pea. The most effective and economical method to manage these diseases is to deploy resistance varieties. However, resistant sources against these diseases were found to be scarce. Hence the present investigation was undertaken to identify resistant genotypes against dry root rot and stem canker at Zonal Agricultural Research Station (ZARS), Kalaburagi. Among 174 pigeon pea genotypes screened against dry root rot and stem canker diseases under field conditions only 15 genotypes were found to be resistant, 120 genotypes recorded moderately resistant and 38 genotypes recorded susceptible reaction to dry root rot whereas only seven genotypes showed resistant reaction, 47 genotypes showed moderately resistant reaction, 79 genotypes showed moderately susceptible reaction, 26 genotypes showed susceptible reaction and 15 genotypes showed highly susceptible reaction to stem canker. Only two genotypes (GRG-811 and RVSA-15-10) shows resistant reaction to both dry root rot and stem canker diseases.