Screening of Lentil Germplasm against Stemphylium Blight and Studies on Association between Disease and Biochemical Parameters

Background: Stemphylium blight, an important fungal disease of lentil caused by Stemphylium botryosum Wallr, has been reported to cause an estimated yield loss of 62% in India and Bangladesh. Considering the importance of the crop vis-à-vis the severity of the disease under terai agro-climatic region of West Bengal, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the germplasm of lentil for Stemphylium blight resistance for their utilization in future resistance breeding programme. Methods: The present experiment was carried out during the rabi season of 2019-20 and 2020-21 with forty lentil germplasm including two checks viz; WBL77 and IPL220 in an alpha lattice design under field condition and in completely randomized design under artificial inoculation respectively. Statistical analysis was carried out using R v. 4.1.1 software. Result: ANOVA revealed significant variation among the genotypes for the studied characters. PCV was found to be higher than GCV for all the studied characters. High heritability (broad sense) accompanied with high genetic advance as percent of mean indicated the presence of additive type of gene action. Based on per cent disease index germplasm were categorized as resistant or moderately resistant types for both under field condition and artificial inoculation. AUDPC was significantly but negatively associated with change in phenol and change in OD phenol under field condition same as that was observed between AUDPC and PPO content under artificial inoculation. Above study state that selection based on disease reaction and their associated parameters gives fruitful result to provide disease resistance parent against Stemphylium blight.