Identification of rust resistance in hybrid parents and advanced breeding lines of pearl millet

Rust caused by Puccinia substriata var indica is one ofthe major diseases affecting both forage and grainproduction in pearl millet, particularly in the postrainycool season (rabi) crop. The disease can be best managedthrough host plant resistance. In all, 214 advancedbreeding lines, including 126 designated B-lines, 23designated R-lines and 65 potential R-lines wereevaluated for rust resistance in the disease nursery duringthe postrainy season 2008–09 under natural epiphytoticconditions. Eight lines (1 B-line, 7 R-lines) that showedresistance (≤10% rust severity) in the field screen wereevaluated in the greenhouse by artificial inoculation ofpotted seedlings to confirm their resistance. One B-line(ICMB 96222) and three R-lines (ICMR 0699, ICMP451-P8 and ICMP 451-P6) were resistant while the otherfour R-lines were susceptible. The four confirmedresistant lines could be useful resistance sources forbreeding rust resistant hybrid parental lines and theirhybrids.