VIEW ARTICLE

Resistance

Inheritance of Resistance to Stalk Rot of Corn Caused by Colletotrichum graminicola. M. L. Carson, Graduate research assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801, Present title and address of senior author: Assistant professor, Department of Plant Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings 57007; A. L. Hooker, professor, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801. Phytopathology 71:1190-1196. Accepted for publication 10 March 1981. Copyright 1981 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-71-1190.

The inheritance of resistance in corn (Zea mays L.) to anthracnose stalk rot (ASR) caused by Colletotrichum graminicola was studied in progeny from five sets of crosses involving four resistant inbred lines—A556, A638, Oh43, and R177—and two susceptible inbreds—C123 and B73. In 1977 and 1978, populations consisted of the parental inbred lines, F₁, F₂, and backcross generations. In 1979, the study was expanded to include second backcross (B₁₁ and B₂₂), backcross-selfed (B_1S and B_2S), and F₃ generations. Analysis of generation means over years indicated that additive genetic effects accounted for more than 90% of the total variation among generation means in all populations. Estimates of genetic and environmental variances were apparently biased in some populations. Estimates of heritability, the largely additive gene action involved, and the relatively high frequency of F₃ families with high levels of resistance in all populations indicate that the pedigree method and recurrent selection schemes would be effective ways to increase ASR resistance in corn populations and inbred lines developed from them.