Comparison of the Reaction of some Selected Maize Lines and Cultivars to Southern Corn Leaf Blight, Bipolaris maydis (Nisikado) Shoem

In order to determine the reaction of some selected maize lines and cultivars to s outhern corn leaf blight (SCLB), 17 lines and cultivars were evaluated in RCBD with 2 and 4 replications in 1999 and 2000, respectively at Gharakhil Reserech Station. In this study, each plant was inoculated at 3-4 leaf stage with a suspension of spore (C= 3 x 104 spore/ml) by syringe and once again at 6-8 leaf stage with infected sorghum seeds (10-15 kernel/whorl) by Bazooka. The percentage of infected area on the leaves of different cultivars were scored two times by 0-5 and 0-100 scales, as disease severity index, at anthesis and two weeks after on. Results showed a significant difference among lines and cultivars to SCLB. Hybrids showed to be more resistant than lines. Meanwhile, line K3547/212 was highly resistant and K3653/111 highly susceptible. Among cultivars, K3547/212 MO17 and K SC 604 were highly resistant. Commercial lines, MO 17, K18 and K19 were moderately resistant and B73 susceptible.