ARS | Publication request: Identification of Resistance to Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli among Melon (Cucumis spp.) Plant Introductions

Submitted to: Cucurbitaceae Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: October 1, 2010
Publication Date: November 14, 2010
Citation: Wechter, W.P., Ling, K., Kousik, C.S., Levi, A., Block, C.C. 2010. Identification of Resistance to Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli among Melon (Cucumis spp.) Plant Introductions. Cucurbitaceae Proceedings. p. 145-147.

Technical Abstract: Bacterial fruit blotch caused by the bacterium Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli (Aac) is a seed-borne disease that threatens most cucurbit crops. Although limited resistance has been found in a small number of Plant Introductions (PI) in watermelon (Citrullus spp.), no significant activity in screening melon (Cucumis spp.) PIs for resistance to this disease has been conducted. In this study, 366 Cucumis spp. PI were screened for resistance to Aac using a newly developed seed vacuum- infusion assay. The majority of lines were found to be extremely susceptible to the disease. Of the 366 PI tested, 16 were selected for standard spray inoculation tests. Six PIs were found to have significantly greater levels of resistance than susceptible control cultivars or other PIs.