EVALUATION OF AVAILABLE GENETIC RESOURCE AGAINST BACTERIAL BLIGHT OF COTTON IN PAKISTAN.

Bacterial leaf Blight of cotton a major seed borne foliar disease that attacks the crop at all growth stages leading to cause severe losses in conducive environment. To find out best source of resistance against pathogen this research was conducted in the field area Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Incidence of bacterial blight of cotton was determined on twenty eight varieties/advanced lines sown in field to determine the resistance resource against the disease. Two years data showed that seventeen varieties (BT-Z-33, BT-S-78, BT-786, BT-A-ONE, BT -282, BT-886, BT-3701, BT-SPECIAL, BT-802, Non Bt-FH 901, BT-92, BT-131, BT-905, BT-SUPPER, Non Bt-MNH 496, Non Bt-FH 1000, and BT-121) expressed moderately resistant response with 21-50 % disease incidence (rating 4). Five varieties viz. Non Bt-FH 207, Non BT-N 112, Non BT-FH 942, Non BT-MNH 6070 and Non Bt-FH 941exhibited moderately susceptible response with 51-70% disease incidence under rating 5. Four varieties namely Non BT-N 814, Non Bt-FH 900, Non BT-ANMOL and Non Bt-FH 2015 showed susceptible response with 71-80% disease incidence (rating 6) while Non BT-REDACOLA and Non BT-C 26 expressed highly susceptible response with disease incidence 81-100% rating 7 against bacterial blight disease of cotton. Results indicate that a wide range of resistant resource is present in Pakistan against the disease. The selection of diverse germplasm/resistant varieties through screening is the most efficient, environment friendly and economical management strategy for farmers against this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]