Evaluation of barley germplasm for resistance to Rhynchosporium secalis at seedling stage in Kenya

Abstract

Barley lines in the Barley National Performance Trial (BNPT) and introductions in the national germplasm program were evaluated for resistance to an isolate of Rhynchosporium secalis at Njoro. Potted plants were artificially inoculated at the three leaf stage in the greenhouse. Results indicated that 24 of the 26 entries in the BNPT exhibited susceptible to highly susceptible reaction types 3 and 4, respectively. These entries had been tested over several years and advanced to the BNPT because of their high level of field resistance without artificial inoculation. By comparison, six of the 17 introductions showed reaction types 3 and 4. Scald resistance from any of the 13 lines showing reaction types 0, 1 or 2 could be incorporated into the adapted and high yielding commercial barley variety Bima to increase the level of resistance available for commercial producers