Field Screening of Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan) for resistance to foliar diseases in Puerto Rico

Abstract

Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) accessions from the world collection, cultivars and local advanced lines from the UPR breeding program were field screened for resistance to foliar diseases at the Isabela Research and Development Center. Uredo cajani, Colletotrichum sp., Cercospora sp. and Phoma sp. were identified as the major foliar pathogens present in the area. Forty eight of the 3286 accessions evaluated showed low incidence of foliar diseases. Of the local lines, line 64-16A showed the fewest foliar symptoms; line 8-AB-2 was the most susceptible within the group evaluated.