The response of kenaf accessions to Sclerotium rolfsii the causal agent of damping-off disease

Abstract

Damping-off disease caused by a fungus Sclerotium rolfsii is one of important diseases on kenaf, a fiber-producing crop. The disease could cause considerable yield losses on fiber production. The use of resistant varieties is the most effective control method for the disease. Understanding the characteristic of resistance of kenaf accessions is important to support the development of resistant varieties. Therefore, this research aimed to determine resistant characters of 15 kenaf accessions to damping-off disease caused by S. rolfsii. The research revealed that there was one accession (CI/77/17/37) showed moderately resistance to S. rolfsii. In addition, five accessions (CI/77/17/21, CI/77/17/25, CI/190/31, C2/210/50/1, and C3/222/2/57) were susceptible and the other accessions were very susceptible to S. rolfsii. It was expected that this information would be useful for kenaf breeders to develop resistant varieties of kenaf to damping-off disease.