EFFECT OF LEAF RUST ON THE YIELD OF RESISTANT WHEATS

Abstract

Heavy infection of leaf rust initiated at an early stage of plant development materially reduced the yield, kernel weight and bushel weight of one susceptible and three resistant varieties of wheat. The yield loss in the susceptible variety was 58 per cent whereas in the resistant varieties it ranged from 12 to 28 per cent. The results indicate a direct relation between the density of inoculum and the amount of necrosis on varieties that are resistant but not immune.