IDENTIFICATION AND INHERITANCE OF DELAYED FIRST PUSTULE APPEARANCE TO COMMON LEAF RUST IN SWEET CORN

Partial resistance effectively reduces common leaf rust (Puccinia sorghi Schw.) epidemics in sweet corn (Zea mays L.). One measurable field component of partial resistance is delayed first pustule appearance (FPA), influenced by latent period and infection efficiency. This is the first report of delayed FPA against common rust in sweet corn. Our objectives were to determine 1) if differences in delayed FPA could be assessed in a field environment, 2) the relationship between delayed FPA and disease severity, and 3) the inheritance of delayed FPA. FPA was screened in a field environment during 1992 and 1993 using two susceptible U.S. station inbreds and 32 breeding lines selected for partial resistance to common rust. The range in mean delay in FPA on a genotype basis was 2.4 to 5.0 days in 1992 and 1.5 to 7.4 days in 1993. Although the rank correlation of genotypes between years was small (r = 0.27), several breeding lines had longer delayed FPA in both years while others produced shorter FPA delay in both years. Seven commercial sweet corn hybrids with a wide range of partial resistance did not differ (P less than or equal to 0.05) for delayed FPA. There was no correlation between disease severity and delayed FPA (r(2) = 0.00 to 0.21) for breeding lines or commercial hybrids, indicating that selection for delayed FPA may be conducted independently of disease severity. In a generation mean analysis conducted in 1993 and 1994 for three high x low delayed FPA crosses, the genetic control of delayed FPA was primarily additive. Dominant genetic effects were found in two crosses and epistasis was not significant in any cross.