Screening of Lablab purpureus (L.) Genotypes against Alternaria Leaf Spot Resistance

Background: Lablab purpureus (L.) bean research in Uttar Pradesh has given less emphasis on improving quality traits preferred by farmers and focused mostly on developing varieties that are high yielding. Though, there are some released Lablab purpureus (L.) varieties farmers mostly prefer to grow their own landrace. Moreover, analysis of farmers’ perceptions and views on Lablab purpureus (L.) bean diseases and control methods utilized by farmers has been minimal. Farmers’ insights and understanding of crop diseases play an important role in sustainable disease management. Therefore, there is a need to assess farmers’ priority problems for Lablab purpureus (L.) bean production, their variety preference and their perception of the leaf spot disease. Methods: In our study, the landraces were assessed both in the field and in the greenhouse during 2021-22 with Alternaria doliconidium and Alternaria destruens isolates. Result: The highest level of resistance were found Under greenhouse evaluation in VRSEM-757, VRSEM-776, VRSEM-730 and VRSEM-739 to Alternaria doliconidium whereas genotypes found to be resistance under field evaluation were VRSEM-799, VRSEM-757 and VRSEM-776. Similarly, genotypes found to be resistance to Alternaria destruens were VRSEM- 757 and VRSEM- 702 under greenhouse evaluation whereas, genotypes VRSEM-776 found to be resistance during field evaluation.However, the resistance were moderate. Overall, resistance were highly heritable, suggesting that phenotypic selection can be exploited to improve leaf spot resistance in lablab bean varieties.