ASSESSMENT OF EARLY BLIGHT RESISTANCE IN INDIAN POTATO CULTIVARS AND ASSOCIATED BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES DURING DISEASE DEVELOPMENT

Among the twenty-three varieties of potato screened against early blight disease under field conditions during Rabi 2020-21 and Rabi 2021-22 in Gujarat at Anand agricultural University, Anand, varieties were categorized into resistant (R), moderately resistant (MR), moderately susceptible (MS), susceptible (S) and highly susceptible (HS). For biochemical analysis some varieties disease reaction revealed Kufri Lima as resistant, Kufri Himalini and Kufri Nilkanth as moderately resistant, Kufri Mohan and Kufri Chadramukhi as moderately susceptible Kufri Pukhraj and Kufri Kesar as susceptible and Kufri Lalit as highly susceptible varieties to early blight disease. These varieties biochemical analysis revealed that healthy leaves of resistant, moderately resistant, moderately susceptible, susceptible and highly susceptible varieties showed higher content of moisture, total soluble sugar and total chlorophyll as compared to diseased leaves. While diseased leaves of resistant, moderately resistant, moderately susceptible, susceptible and highly susceptible varieties contained higher content of phenol and true protein compared to healthy leaves.