Reactions of Wheats to Flag Smut

Of 126 varieties of wheat tested for their reaction to flag smut under sick field condition during 1972–73, 61 which were free from the disease were tested along with Kalyansona undeercnditions so frtificial lnoculation in the eame eick field during 1973–74. None of the varieties tested was immune to the disease. Seven varieties, viz., VL 426, HD 2117, HW 161, HB 121, HB 113, Norteno and 112-P4 were resistant having less than 2 per cent infection and four varieties, viz., VL 422, VL 431, VL 529 and HB 150, were moderately resistant with 2.13 to 4.40 per cent infection. The remaining varieties were moderately to highly susceptible with 5.03 to 69.63 per cent infection. VL 426, HD 2117, HW 161 and 112—P4 of the resistant group, which were also fairly resistant to loose smut coupled with other agronomic characteristics, can be utilized in hybridization programme as donors of flag smut resistance.