A Software for Assessing Reaction of Genotypes to Pathogens in Multilocational Tests

Abstract

Every year numerous land races, cultivars and improved elite breeding lines are exposed to pathogens at many locations across the country to select the best performing genotypes. A computer software package has been developed for a quick and efficient analysis of screening-set data on the reaction of genotypes to pathogens. The software is based on a database structure with visual basic (VB) script as a front end. This software contains four modules for analysing reactions of test genotypes across different locations by generating reports: frequency distribution table for disease scores with location severity index (LSI); LSI for each entry (genotype) in the screening-set; select locations by eliminating those with low LSI; and list promising entries based on entry-wise susceptibility index (SI) of genotypes across locations. User-friendly screen prompts are available for creating multiple screening-set data, details of genotypes, locations and diseases. Package output screen consists of different combo boxes to query for required information and command buttons to generate the four reports. There is another provision in the output screen that user can directly send the generated reports to either a document or spread sheet format. This software was validated with screening-sets data 2003 from all India coordinated rice improvement project on the reaction of genotypes to rice diseases. Apart from analysis of the reactions to pathogens, this softwarecan be used to assess the data on reactions of genotypes to all abiotic or other biotic stresses.