Evaluation of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L) Varieties for Leaf Rust and Yield Attributing Characters

Abstract

The experiment was carried out to screen and evaluate commercial wheat varieties against leaf rust and grain yield at Agricultural Research Station, Baffa, Mansehra, Pakistan. The experimental location is considered favourable for development of leaf rust disease. Twenty wheat varieties including susceptible control Morocco showed variable response to leaf rust and no variety was found completely resistant to leaf rust. Three varieties (NARC-2011, Pirsabak-08 and Siran-2010) were moderately resistant (MR), 11 varieties (NARC-09, Punjab-11, Pirsabak-04, Pirsabak-05, Fisalabad-08, Pakistan-13, Pirsabak-15, Pukhtunkhwa-15, Shakaar-13, Pirsabak-13 and NIFA-Insaaf) were moderately susceptible (MS), 3 varieties (Millat-11, Lasani-08 and Atta Habib) showed medium response (M) while 3 varieties (Sehar-2006, Glaxy-2013 and Morocco) were susceptible (S) to leaf rust. The result of statistical analysis for yield attributing characters showed significant variations for number of grains per spike, 1000 grain weight (g), grain yield (tons/ha), biological yield (tons/ha) and Harvest Index (%). Number of grains per spike ranged from 41 to 67 showed by varieties Morocco and NARC-2011, 1000 grain weight from 32 to 61 grams by varieties Glaxy-2013 and Siran-2010, grain yield from 1.92 to 5.10 tons/hectares by varieties Sehar-2006 and NARC-2011, biological yield from 8.36 to 10.87 tons/hectares by varieties Morocco and Pakistan-13, and harvest index from 22.29 % to 49.22 % by varieties Morocco and NARC-2011. Screening results of wheat varieties revealed that the level of resistant to leaf rust is at risk due to possible evolution of rust pathogen in experimental location and the potential of grain yield of these varieties may be effected by leaf rust.