Screening barnyard millet germplasm against grain smut (Ustilago panici-frumentacei Brefeld)

Barnyard millet accessions (257) were inoculated with grain smut spores at anthesis stage during 2003. Seed produced on inoculated ear heads was sown in 2005 and resulting plants evaluated for ten morphological traits and grain smut incidence. The accessions were grouped into seven groups based on origin. The lowest mean grain smut incidence was recorded for advance breeding lines, while highest mean value was observed for Uttarakhand group. Genes determining grain yield and susceptibility to grain smut were at most loosely linked as evidenced by non-significant correlations between grain smut incidence and grain yield in six out of seven groups as well as whole collection. Smut resistance along with grain yield in barnyard millet can be enhanced by adopting proper breeding strategy; therefore, in segregating generations, selection should be carried out for both characters simultaneously.