Inheritance of Resistance to Stalk Rot of Corn Caused byColletotrichum graminicola

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Abstract
The inheritance of resistance in corn (Z. mays L.) to anthracnose stalk rot (ASR) caused by C. graminicola was studied in progeny from 5 sets of crosses involving 4 resistant inbred lines, A556, A638, Oh43 and R177, and 2 susceptible inbreds, C123 and B73. In 1977 and 1978, populations consisted of the parental inbred lines, F1, F2 and backcross generations. In 1979, the study was expanded to include 2nd backcross (B11 and B22), backcross-selfed (B1s and B2s) and F3 generations. Analysis of generation means over years indicated that additive genetic effects accounted for > 90% of the total variation among generation means in all populations. Estimates of genetic and environmental variances were apparently biased in some populations. Estimates of heritability, the largely additive gene action involved, and the relatively high frequency of F3 families with high levels of resistance in all populations indicate that the pedigree method and recurrent selection schemes would be effective ways to increase ASR resistance in corn populations and inbred lines developed from them.