Response of Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek genotypes to charcoal rot disease

Charcoal rot disease of mung bean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid, is one of the highly destructive diseases of the crop growing arid region of the Pakistan. Twenty six varieties of mung bean were screened out for their resistance against M. phaseolina in artificially inoculated sandy loam soil collected from the District Bhakkar, Punjab. The experiment was conducted in pots kept in a completely randomized deigned with three replications for 60 days and the acquired data were analyzed statistically. Mung bean genotypes were categorized on the basis of disease severity, plant mortality and growth inhibition index (GII). Results showed that among the 26 genotypes, 2 (MNUYT-317 and NM-2011) were found highly resistant, 10 moderately resistant (Mung-12004, MNUYT-317, Mung-12007, MNUYT-201, MNUYT-219, AZRI-2006, Mung-12002, MNUYT-318, MNUYT-207 and MNUYT-107), 7 susceptible (MNUYT-103, MNUYT-11, MNUYT-301, MNUYT-16 MNUYT-7, MNUYT-109 and MNUYT-312) and rest of 7 (MNUYT- 102, FS-0318, MNUYT-210, MNUYT-118, MNUYT-204, MNUYT-18 and MNUYT-105) as highly susceptible. Screening of mung bean for identification of resistance against charcoal rot disease in potted soil is found be appropriate, short term and efficient method prior to release as approved variety in the market to avoid field losses.