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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #223453
Title: In Search of Markers Linked to Fusarium Wilt Race 1 Resistance in Watermelon

Author
item Harris-Shultz, Karen
item Wechter, William - Pat
item LANINI, BRENDA - HARRIS MORAN
item VIVODA, ELISABETTA - HARRIS MORAN
item Levi, Amnon

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/2008
Publication Date: 7/1/2008
Citation: Harris, K.R., Wechter, W.P., Lanini, B., Vivoda, E., Levi, A. 2008. In Search of Markers Linked to Fusarium Wilt Race 1 Resistance in Watermelon. HortScience. 43(4):1238.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fusarium wilt in watermelon, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON), is responsible for severe economic losses and is one of the most important soilborne pathogens limiting watermelon production in many areas of the world. FON, which attacks the vasculature system of watermelon plants resulting in severe wilting and death, has been separated into three pathogenic races: 0, 1, and 2. Control of this disease is achieved mainly by the use of resistant cultivars and crop rotation. FON race 1 occurs throughout most of the watermelon-growing regions of the world and resistance to this race is conferred by a single dominant gene. A F2 and F3 watermelon population, derived from the resistant parent 2169-6 and the susceptible parent 2170-3, was generated. One-hundred and sixty F3 families (5 replications x 5 plants = 25 plants) were screened and scored for resistance to FON race 1. Based on this phenotyping, zygosity was determined for the F2 individuals. F2 individuals homozygous dominant for resistance or homozygous recessive for susceptibility were used in bulked segregant analysis employing RAPD, SSR, and SRAP markers. Candidate markers, putatively linked to FON resistance are currently being identified and characterized.