Screening of lentil genotypes against stemphylium blight disease and molecular identification of causal organism

During the cropping seasons of 2019–20, 2020–21, and 2021–22, respectively, lentil genotypes were screened against Stemphylium blight using the Alpha-Lattice Design with three replications at Pulses Research Centre, BARI, Ishurdi, Pabna-6620 under natural and artificial epiphytotic conditions. In case of artificial inoculum condition, the artificial cultured inoculums were sprayed at 1.3 × 105 spores/mL concentration of spores for spore inoculation in the experimental plots. The disease severity data was recorded following 1–9 disease rating scale and Area under Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) was also estimated. Considering the disease severity and Area under Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) under natural epiphytotic condition none of the genotype was identified as Resistant, and Very Susceptible but seven genotypes namely BARI Masur-9, BARI Masur-8, PRECOZ, BLX-12004-5, RL-12-181, BLX 10001-1, and BLX 09015 were found as Moderately Resistance-Moderately Susceptible genotypes against Stemphylium blight disease with disease rating scale 4, 16 to 30% disease infection rate, and average estimated AUDPC 81–120 among the 60 lentil genotypes. But in case of artificial inoculation during cropping season 2021-22, only three genotypes BARI Masur-9, PRECOZ, and BLX 09015 were identified as Moderately Susceptible. Disease severity was recorded higher in artificial inoculation compared to natural epiphytotic condition. Considering the yield performance under natural and artificial inoculation the genotypes BARI Masur-9, PRECOZ, BARI Masur-8, LRIL-21-112-1-1-1-1-6, BLX-12004-5, BLX 10001-1, BLX 09015, and RL-12-181 were identified Moderately-Resistant to Moderately-Susceptible genotypes with better yield performance under disease infestation.