RESISTANCE OF SESAME CULTIVARS TO CERCOSPORA LEAF-SPOT INDUCED BY CERCOSPORA-SESAMI ZIMIN

During 1986 and 1988, 49 sesame cultivars were evaluated in the field at Samaru, Nigeria, for resistance to Cercospora leaf spot disease ind uced by Cercospora sesami. Disease severity scores showed that none of the cultivars were immune to the disease with more than 90% of the cu ltivars being either susceptible or highly susceptible. However, four cultivars, 65B58, 60/2/3-1-8B, 69B-392 and 73A-96B were found to be th e most resistant. Late-maturing and branched types were less affected by the disease than the early-maturing and unbranched types. There was a high incidence of disease-induced leaf defoliation, especially amon gst the early maturing cultivars.