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Pigeonpea, a subtropical legume, was successfully grown in a high-latitude (≈45°N) environment. Four short-season pigeonpea accessions from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) were subjected to three cycles of pedigree selection. Performance trials (175,000 plants/ha) were conducted on loamy sand with dryland and irrigated sites in 1991 and 1992. Thirty-eight S3-derived lines from ICRISAT ICPL 83004 were used in both years and seven S3-derived lines from ICRISAT P 2125 and ICRISAT ICPL 85010 were added the second year. Differences (P ≤ 0.05) in seed yield (kg·ha–1) were observed among the S3 lines, with a maximum yield of 1468 kg·ha–1. The lines also differed (P ≤ 0.05) for harvest index (HI), calculated as the ratio of seed yield to shoot total dry matter (TDM) with a maximum of 0.48 (line MF-26). Dryland seed yield was strongly correlated with TDM (r 2 = 0.98), HI (r 2 = 0.92), and early bloom (r 2 = 0.76). In a time-of-planting comparison of seven lines in 1992, seed yield was highest (754 kg·ha–1) at the earliest (29 Apr.) planting date and declined progressively to 178 kg·ha–1 at the latest (2 June) planting date, while HI decreased from 0.42 to 0.12. Plants were shorter at maturity in the earliest planting date.
Partial resistance effectively reduces common leafrust (Puccinia sorghi Schw.) epidemics in sweet corn (Zea mays L.). One measurable field component of partial resistance is delayed first pustule appearance (FPA), influenced by latent period and infection efficiency. This is the first report of delayed FPA against common rust in sweet corn. Our objectives were to determine 1) if differences in delayed FPA could be assessed in a field environment, 2) the relationship between delayed FPA and disease severity, and 3) the inheritance of delayed FPA. FPA was screened in a field environment during 1992 and 1993 using two susceptible U.S. station inbreds and 32 breeding lines selected for partial resistance to common rust. The range in mean delay in FPA on a genotype basis was 2.4 to 5.0 days in 1992 and 1.5 to 7.4 days in 1993. Although the rank correlation of genotypes between years was small (r = 0.27), several breeding lines had longer delayed FPA in both years while others produced shorter FPA delay in both years. Seven commercial sweet corn hybrids with a wide range of partial resistance did not differ (P ≤ 0.05) for delayed FPA. There was no correlation between disease severity and delayed FPA (r2 = 0.00 to 0.21) for breeding lines or commercial hybrids, indicating that selection for delayed FPA may be conducted independently of disease severity. In a generation mean analysis conducted in 1993 and 1994 for three high x low delayed FPA crosses, the genetic control of delayed FPA was primarily additive. Dominant genetic effects were found in two crosses and epistasis was not significant in any cross.