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Title: Preliminary evaluation of resistance to powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii) in AVRDC collections of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

Author
item DHILLON, N - The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC) - Taiwan
item PHETHIN, S - The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC) - Taiwan
item LIN, C - The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC) - Taiwan
item CHEN, W - The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC) - Taiwan
item WANG, J - The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC) - Taiwan
item Kousik, Chandrasekar - Shaker
item McCreight, James - Jim

Submitted to: SEAVEG
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/11/2015
Publication Date: 3/11/2015
Citation: Dhillon, N.P., Phethin, S., Lin, C.C., Chen, W., Wang, J.F., Kousik, C.S., Mccreight, J.D. 2015. Preliminary evaluation of resistance to powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii) in AVRDC collections of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.). SEAVEG. p. 137-140. (text in En) (En Abst) (SB320.2.H9 2014).

Interpretive Summary: N/A

Technical Abstract: Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) is an important market vegetable in Asia, where it is also used in folk medicine to manage type 2 diabetes. Powdery mildew caused by Podosphaera xanthii is a serious fungal disease of bitter gourd and yield losses of up to 50% have been reported. After observing the initial field reaction of 150 global collections of bitter gourd to P. xanthii, a powdery mildew field screening experiment comprising seven accessions (THMC 113, THMC 143, THMC 144, THMC 153, THMC 167, THMC 170, THMC 177) was conducted at AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center at Kasetsart University’s Kamphaeng Saen campus in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, during the winter season of 2011. Five plants of each accession were evaluated in a non-replicated plot. Disease reaction was recorded for individual plants of each entry following a two-part rating scale where (S) indicated both sides of the leaves were covered with mildew mycelia and spores and (R) indicated leaves had no visible mildew. Five bitter gourd accessions (THMC 113, THMC 143, THMC 153, THMC 167, THMC 177) were resistant to the local race of powdery mildew. These accessions were also assessed at AVRDC headquarters in Taiwan during the spring season of 2012. Accessions THMC 143, THMC 153, THMC 167, and THMC 177 were highly resistant to the local race of powdery mildew. Accessions THMC 113, THMC 143, THMC 144, THMC 153, THMC 167, THMC 170, and THMC 177 were highly resistant to P. xanthii race SD in a greenhouse test in Salinas, California, U.S. The seven bitter gourd lines were also resistant to the powdery mildew isolate prevalent in Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. (Melon Race 1) in greenhouse and field tests. However, when these lines were tested against a powdery mildew isolate collected from wild balsam apple (Momordica charantia) plants in Florida, AVRDC lines THMC 113 and THMC 170 were highly susceptible in a petri-plate assay. All other AVRDC bitter gourd lines evaluated were highly resistant and no powdery mildew was detected on their leaves.