Screening of exotic potato germplasm for resistance to stem necrosis

Abstract

Stem necrosis caused by a Groundnut bud necrosis virus is a serious disease of potato in central India. In order to find sources of resistance to this disease, 207 exotic accessions of cultivated potato were screened under natural conditions in fields at Gwalior for three successive years. A large number of accessions(33.8%) were found to be resistant to highly resistant. These can be used in potato breeding programme for developing varieties adopted to the region and having resistance to stem necrosis.