Inheritance of resistance to gray leaf spot in crosses involving selected resistant inbred lines of corn.

ABSTRACT Three populations derived from crosses of selected resistant inbreds (061, B37HtN, and DS:74:1071) with susceptible inbred FR1141 and a population derived from a cross of B37 x B37HtN were evaluated for gray leaf spot severity in 1992 and 1993 at Urbana, IL, and Andrews, NC. Populations included the susceptible parent (P(1)), the resistant parent (P(2)), F(1) and F(2) generations, backcrosses BCP(1) and BCP(2), and, when space and seed were available, one or more of the F(3), BCP(1)S(1), and BCP(2)S(1) generations. Plants at Urbana were inoculated, and naturally occurring disease was relied upon at Andrews. Individual plants were rated by visually estimating the percent leaf area blighted (necrotic). Generation mean analysis of data combined over years or locations indicated that a simple additive-dominance model was able to explain the inheritance of resistance for all populations. Dominance effects were detected in all population evaluated. For the FR1141 x 061 and FR1141 x B37HtN populations, dominance was significant at early ratings, but not at late ratings. Results from generation mean analysis for individual years, locations, and rating were variable.