Resistance to the sorghum shoot-fly, Atherigona soccata (Rondani) and its genetic analysis

Abstract

In field-plot tests in New Delhi, India, in 1973, diallel analysis involving 4 agronomically superior high-yielding but susceptible dwarf varieties of sorghum and 4 resistant varieties was used to investigate the mechanism and inheritance of resistance to Atherigona soccata Rond. Group differences in percentage oviposition between susceptible and resistant parents, and between susceptible X susceptible and resistant X resistant crosses revealed that resistance to the pest involved oviposition non-preference. Tiller development consequent to dead-heart formation of the main shoot and susbequent survival and recovery depended on primary resistance. Resistance was quantitative in inheritance and mainly governed by additive genes. It is suggested that selection from resistant families resulting from crosses between agronomically superior and resistant lines would be effective in developing resistant varieties that combine dwarf to semi-dwarf stature, earliness and high yield