Identification of resistance sources against frogeye leaf spot (FLS) disease of soybean caused by Cercospora sojina under hot spot conditions of Uttarakhand hills

Frogeye leaf spot of soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] caused by Cercospora sojina Hara is an important disease that causes significant yield loss. The present investigation was carried out to identify the resistance source(s) against frogeye leaf spot (FLS) in soybean at Experimental Farm, Hawalbagh, ICAR–VPKAS, Almora, Uttarakhand, India, considered as hot spot for FLS, during kharif , 2018 and 2019. Forty five genotypes along with two susceptible checks were evaluated against FLS. Per cent Disease Index (PDI) varied from 1.9 to 78.8%. Out of 45 genotypes screened, none was Immune, 24.44% were highly resistant, 64.44% were moderately resistant, and 15.55% were moderately susceptible to FLS disease. Eleven genotypes i.e . NRC 88, VS 2004–9, VS 2005–40, VS 2006–17, DSB 11, NRC 84, AMS-MB-5-19, VLS 86, Himso 1685, MACS 1407, and MACS 1442 were found to be highly resistant (PDI 1.9% to 10.9%) with VS 2005–40 and MACS 1442 showed minimum and maximum PDI, respectively. These resistant genotypes can be used as source of donors for evolving resistant varieties against frogeye leaf spot disease in future breeding programme.