Screening of Maize Inbred Lines under artificial epiphytotic condition for their reaction to Turcicum leaf blight and Common leaf rust.

Common leaf rust (Puccinia sorghi Schw) and Turcicum leaf blight (Exserohilum trurcicum) is the major foliar fungal diseases of maize in Ethiopia causing yield losses in the range of 12% to 61% rely up on the genotypes. Screening was done on 178 (106 quality protein maize and 72 normal maize lines )maize inbred lines against Common leaf rust (CLR) and Turcicum leaf blight (TLB) diseases in order to know the reaction of those maize lines for two consecutive years. The experiment was conducted at Ambo plant protection research center (TLB and CLR) and Bako agricultural research center (TLB only), on station experimental fields. Out of 178 maize inbred line, 105 (53 quality protein maize and 52 normal maize lines) were evaluated for CLR; and 73 (53 quality protein maize and 20 normal maize lines) were evaluated for TLB. A randomized complete block design was used. Artificial inoculation was made twice a week for three continuous weeks, when plants were 30-45cm high (4-5 leaf stages). Among 73(53 quality protein maize and 20 normal maize lines) maize lines, resistant and susceptible responses were recorded on 42 (33 quality protein maize and 9 normal maize lines) and 3 (1 quality protein maize and 2 normal maize lines) lines for TLB disease, respectively. Out of 105 (53 quality protein maize and 52 normal maize lines) maize lines, resistant and susceptible responses were recorded on 33 (11 quality protein maize and 22 normal maize lines) and 4 (quality protein maize only) lines for CLR disease, in that order. Those selected resistance maize lines from this screening will be used in breeding program and finding of resistant maize lines for both diseases should be continued using modern screening tools as well as techniques in addition to this conventional method.