ARS | Publication request: Watermelon resistance to powdery mildew race 1

Submitted to: Cucurbitacea
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: July 26, 2002
Publication Date: December 1, 2002
Citation: Davis, A.R., Thomas, C.E., Levi, A., Bruton, B.D., Pair, S.D. 2002. Watermelon resistance to powdery mildew race 1. In: Maynard, D.N., editor. Cucurbitaceae `02. ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA. 192-198.

Technical Abstract: Powdery mildew is an emerging disease of watermelon in the United States. To date, race 1 and race 2 of the genus Sphaerotheca fuliginea have been detected on watermelon. In this study watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Plant Introduction lines from the USDA Southern Regional Plant Introduction Station at Griffin, GA were analyzed for resistance to S. fuliginea race 1 using field and growth chamber studies. Five Accessions demonstrated resistance. Plant Introduction Accession number 525088, a heterogeneous resistant line, was utilized for studying the inheritance of this resistance by analyzing crosses produced from a susceptible parent ('Black Diamond'). Heritability of this trait was demonstrated although a simple Mendelian inheritance was not obvious. The information gained from this study will be useful in transferring powdery mildew tolerance into commercial watermelon cultivars thus reducing the number of fungicide applications necessary for the control of powdery mildew on watermelon.