Browsing by Author "Tembo, Langa"

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    Indirect selection for resistance to Stenocarpella maydis and Fusarium graminearum and the prospects of selecting for high-yielding and resistant maize hybrids
    (Plant Breeding, 2016) Tembo, Langa; Asea, Godfrey; Gibson, Paul T.; Okori, Patrick
    Stenocarpella maydis and Fusarium graminearum affect grain yield and quality as a result of mycotoxins produced. A negative association of yield with resistance to cob rots has been reported. The objectives of this study were therefore to investigate the influence of cob characteristics on the response to F. graminearum and S. maydis disease reaction and evaluate the prospects of direct selection for high-yielding and resistant maize hybrids. In this study, the pathogens were directly introduced to the cob through toothpick inoculation. Correlation of husk cover to diseaseseverity of each pathogen, separately toothpick inoculated, was significant(P < 0.01). However, the low r values (<0.45) of traits associated with the response to inoculation by S. maydis and F. graminearum imply that indirect selection would not be beneficial for obtaining the type of resistance shown under inoculation. Several hybrids combined good yields with at least moderate resistance to both pathogens.
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    Resistance breeding strategy for Stenocarpella maydis and Fusarium graminearum cob rots in tropical maize
    (Plant breeding, 2013) Tembo, Langa; Asea, Godfrey; Gibson, Pault; Okori, Patric K.
    Maize cob rot caused by Fusarium graminearum and Stenocarpella maydis affects grain yield and quality. The objective of this study was to investigate the appropriateness of multiple infection as a selection and breeding strategy for multiple resistance to F. graminearum and S. maydis. Twelve tropical inbred lines with varying resistance to either or both pathogens were mated in a full diallel and the progeny and their parents evaluated for reaction to single or multiple infection. Under multiple inoculation, S. maydis suppressed colonization of cobs by F. graminearum. General combining ability (GCA) effects indicated that inbred WL 118–10 effectively transmitted resistance to both diseases. Hybrids’ resistant to S. maydis was also resistant to F. graminearum, but the reverse was not true. Therefore, efficient screening should initially involve screening for S. maydis followed by F. graminearum. Overall, the suppression of F. graminearum by S. maydis shows that multiple infection cannot be used as an appropriate breeding strategy to obtain multiple resistance. The use of F. graminearum and S. maydis separately is, therefore, the best breeding strategy.