Recurrent phenotypic selection and effects on the resistance to Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.) Leonard & Suggs in maize

Abstract

The effect of three recurrent phenotypic selection cycles on the increase of the resistance level to Exserohilum turcicum in popcorn, Pirapoca Amarela cultivar, was evaluated in corn seedlings under green-house conditions. The resistance to the pathogen was evaluated taking into account the infection frequency and the average lesion area. No statistically significant differences were detected for infection frequency; however, a statistically significant effect was detected for the average lesion area observed for the different selection cycles when compared to the original population.