Preliminary Screening of Maize Accessions Against Common Rust Disease ( Puccinia sorghi Schw) in Arsi Negele District, Ethiopia

Maize is one of the most important crops in Ethiopia. The production of the crop is threatened by a number of biotic and a biotic factor. Among biotic factors, common rust caused by Puccinia sorghi Schw, is one of destructive foliar diseases of maize in Ethiopia. A study was conducted during the main cropping season (April to November, 2016) in the field at Arsi Negele research farm, Ethiopia with the objective of screening 92 maize accessions and 2 farmer’s verities checks against common rust disease. The experiment was laid out in augmented design with no replications. Disease assessment was done as percentage of leaf area infected on individual plant at 15 days intervals starting from 55 days after planting to cropping season for 5 times. The mean values of disease incidence, severity and AUDPC were calculated and yield recorded. The higher disease percent severity and AUDPC, least yield and thousand seed weight were observed from accessions, AN-239620, AN-9195, AN-9988, AN-9991, AN-15459, AN-15460, AN-16021, AN-18121, AN-18122 and Check-1 with mean values (63.94%, 1694.5%-in days, 3.04 to 3.69 t/ha and 240 to 297g) respectively and categorized in moderately susceptible group. Conversely, the minimum percent disease severity, AUDPC, higher yield and thousand seed weight were recorded from accessions, AN-16559, AN-9987, AN-16571, AN-18104, AN-18106, AN-18121, AN2-4297, AN-913, AN-15325 AN-15326, AN-15461, AN-16276, AN-16278, AN-241584 and AN-162383, with mean values of (31.01%, 720.4%-in days, 4.81 to 5.59 t/ha and 380 to 442g) respectively and grouped in resistant category. Therefore, accessions recorded low percent disease severity and AUDPC values could be used as the resistant varieties and source of resistance to common rust for varietal development of maize.