Southern rust, caused by Puccinia polysora Underw., has become one of the most destructive diseases affecting maize, occurring in important areas of production of this crop in Brazil. Using resistant cultivars is the most efficient means to control this disease, and there are a large number of cultivars with different resistance degrees in the market. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reaction of commercial maize cultivars for resistance to southern rust in different localities of São Paulo State, correlated to yield. A total of 50 simple and triple hybrids (HST) and 22 double hybrids and varieties of maize (HDV) in use by farmers were evaluated in 2005/2006 for their reaction to southern rust in six locations in western and north-central regions of São Paulo State. In the experiments with HST, the most resistant cultivars with the highest yields were: 30F80, 30F90, 30K73, AG 7000, DAS 2B710, DKB 191, DKB 466 and Impacto. Among HDV, the most resistant ones presenting the highest yields were: 30S40 and AG 2040. Yield losses due to the severity of southern rust, assessed in the stage of pastry grain, ranged from 3.5%, for cultivars with approximately 2.5% of leaf area affected by the disease, to 20.3% for cultivars with 39% of the leaf area affected, compared to cultivars of higher resistance to the disease (1.4% affected leaf area).
Puccinia polysora; leaf disease; correlation; Zea mays
