Screening of mint germplasm under field and glasshouse conditions

Eighteen accessions of mint were screened under natural conditions in glass house and field to identify resistant germplasm compromising of local as well exotic accessions against powdery mildew (Erysiphe cishoracearum) and rust (Puccina menthae). In the glass house, rust was found on eight accessions with catnip mint being worst affected exhibited an incidence of 77%. Powdery mildew was noticed on five accessions of mint and lavender mint showed the highest disease incidence 86%. Five accessions were found free of disease which included cool mint, nana asavi, nana magrabhi, field mint and chinese mint both. In field, one accession (pahari pudina) was affected by powdery mildew whereas rust was found in all the plots with again catnip mint showing disease incidence of 95%.