Screening for identification of finger millet varieties against major diseases

Twenty two finger millet (Eleusine coracana) genotypes were evaluated for resistance to blast (Pyricularia grisea) at Agricultural Research Station, Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, India, during kharif, 2019 under natural disease pressure. None of the genotypes was found free from disease incidence. Minimum percentage of neck and finger blast severity was recorded in VR 1149 (10.0% and 10.3%) and the maximum percentage of disease severity was observed in UURM 2015-1 (75.0% and 65.0%) whereas it was 75.7% and 77.7% in Udurumalliga (check) respectively. Minimum percentage of banded blight was recorded in VR 1149 (22.7%) and the maximum percentage of banded blight was observed in VHC 4087 and UURM 2015-1 (96.0%).