Abstract
Blast caused by Pyricularia grisea is a serious disease of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn.) and causes significant yield losses. An attempt was therefore made to screen 40 genotypes for blast resistance in two consecutive years and to determine the mechanism of resistance. Genotypes GE-3022, GE-3024, GE-3058, GE-3060, and MR-6 showed consistency of resistance against leaf, neck, and finger blast in the two years of the experiment. Smaller leaf area, narrow leaf angle, fewer stomata, dwarf plant with better conversion efficiency of photosynthates from source to sink (harvest index), thick epidermis and cuticle on the leaf and neck, fewer chlorenchymatous strands, higher total phenols, and low quantities of total and reducing sugars contributed toward blast resistance in finger millet. Hence, these morphological, anatomical, and biochemical parameters could be effectively used in the formulation of selection indices in the selection of resistant genotypes for resistance breeding programmes against blast in finger millet.
