Quantification of resistance of F6 sesame elite lines against Charcoal-rot and Fusarium wilt diseases

The yield of sesame in Egypt has plateaued at less than 4.0 ardab (120 Kg) /feddan for more than 20 years. The tested material comprised 24 elite sesame lines in F6, their parents and a check local cultivar. They were reacted differently throughout the different stages of disease development in an artificially infested soil with M. phaseolina and F. oxysporum as the causal pathogens of charcoal rot and wilt, respectively under greenhouse conditions. The sesame lines that produce < 50.0%; < 60.0 % to 50.0%; < 70.0 to 60.0%; < 80.0 to 70.0%; < 90.0 to 80.0%; 90.0% or more of healthy mature plants were classified as highly susceptible; susceptible; moderate susceptible; moderate resistant; resistant and highly resistant at seedling and mature stages. According to suggested categories it could be concluded that line P5 (NM59) ,C6.3 , C1.10 and C3.8 were the most resistant ones for charcoal rot disease. In addition, P5 and F6 derived lines C1.6, C1.10, C3.8, C6.3, C6.5 and C9.15 were the most resistant lines against F. oxysporum infection. It seems that P5 is a valuable source for resistance to both diseases. Although elite lines were of common resistance to both diseases viz., C1.10, C3.8 and C6.3 only line (C6.3) was the most resistant one against combined infection of M. phaseolina and F. oxysporum. Fortunately, this elite line is the top yielder line among the F6 selected lines. Other elite lines that possess resistance but of moderate to high yield are also valuable and will be kept as a source of resistance.