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MULTIPLE DISEASE RESISTANCE IN LENTIL GERMPLASM FROM PAKISTAN

SHAUKAT HUSSAIN, ASGHAR ALI, M. ASHRAF ZAHID AND S.M. IQBAL

Abstract: Lentil blight, rust and viral diseases, particularly pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV) are serious threat to lentil production in Pakistan. Multiple disease resistance in lentil is not available in the country. During 1998-99, 590 local lentil germplasm accessions were evaluated under field conditions to identify multiple sources of resistance against major diseases. A wide range of variation to disease reaction was observed among lentil genotypes. Majority of the accessions was susceptible to rust, whereas maximum number of genotypes showed either resistant or tolerant reaction to Ascochyta blight and PSbMV. Only one accession (66013-6) was found with high level of resistance to all the three diseases. Twenty-three accessions were found highly resistant to both Ascochyta blight and PSbMV. Two lines (66013-3 and 66013-4) were found resistant to blight and rust. The identified sources of resistance can be utilized in lentil breeding program for the development of disease resistant cultivars for commercial cultivation.

Pulses Program, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan