REACTION OF BER CULTIVARS/GERMPLASM AGAINST OIDIUM ERYSIPHOIDES F. SP. ZIZIPHI CAUSING POWDERY MILDEW DISEASE UNDER ORCHARD CONDITION

Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) is the hardiest among the cultivated fruit trees, generally grown in arid regions of India and belongs to the family Rhamnaceae.Powdery mildew of ber is caused by Oidium erysiphoides f.sp.ziziphi is the most important disease that causes maximum reduction in yield and quality of ber fruits.Developing a resistance variety to disease, provides inexpensive, durable and effective means of plant disease control.The experiment was conducted in orchard to find out the performance of 31 germplasm of ber against powdery mildew disease and categorized as resistance and susceptible on the basis of disease intensity.Among these cultivars, three cultivars (Darakhi -2, Najuk and Katha Bombay) exhibited resistance reaction while others categorized as moderately susceptible to susceptible reaction in which, 19 germplasm (Phalisa Alwari, Jogia, Kaithali, Katha, Kishmis, Mehroon, Mundia, Chandni Supari, Saphar Chandi, Tabes Taso, ZG-3, Pemadi, Asapuri-2, Morchia, Pathani, Sukhawani, Kheera, Kharkhi and Early Banarasi Prolific) showed moderately susceptible reaction while remaining nine germplasm (Chhuhara-1, Chhuhara-2, Chonchal, Gola, Illaichi, Kathaphal, Sev, Thornless and Umran) were showed susceptible reaction to the disease.Among these, Gola cultivar was rated as highly susceptible as it depicted higher disease intensity (37.89%).