Maize Genetics

Improved cultivars particularly hybrids combining high yield and disease resistance play a significant role in increasing yield. Breeding disease resistant varieties is the socio-economical and viable alternative to reduce the cost of cultivation. Since Banded leaf and sheath blight (Rhizoctonia solani f.sp sasakii) has become a disease of major concern in maize only recently, little work on genetic analysis and breeding for resistance to this disease has been undertaken. Moreover only a few resistance sources have been identified. So the emphasis was to screen additional inbred lines for identifying potential new sources. Also genetic analysis of resistance needs to be undertaken to understand the mechanism as well as to devise appropriate strategy for incorporation of resistance as well as to improve yield. By involving diverse maize inbred lines with different disease reactions, experimental hybrids with higher productivity and resistant to BLSB can be generated. This book provides an insight to the genetics of resistance to banded leaf and sheath blight along with yield. The analysis will be useful to scientific community involved in resistance breeding studies in crop plants.