Evaluation of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) genotypes for resistance to Cercospora leaf spots in north Cameroon

Abstract

Early and late leaf spots caused by Cercospora arachidicola Hori and Cercospora personatum (Berk. & Curt.) Deighton are among the major biotic constraints to groundnut production in sub-saharan Africa. A two-year screening experiment was conducted in 2001 and 2002 at the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development farm, Maroua to identify resistant genotypes for the groundnut breeding programme. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi- Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) nine-point scale was used for Cercospora severity rating. Groundnut genotyes were grouped into various classes of resistance to leaf spots using the method suggested by the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (WECARD). The results indicate that no genotype was immune to both leaf spots. The genotype ICGV 91225 was found to be resistant to early leaf spot. No genotype was resistant to late leaf spot. The genotypes ICG 6902, #3-94, SAMNUT 22, SAMNUT 22, NC-GP 343, ICGV 91225, ICGMS 42 and Samnut 10 which were more resistant to Cercospora leaf spots at harvest than the check, Samnut 11, could be used as donor parents for late spot resistance breeding.