Development of a Screening Test for Resistance of Cucurbits and Cucurbita Hybrid Rootstocks to Monosporascus cannonballus

Abstract

Screening test resistance of cucurbit plants to Monosporascus cannonballus, responsible of Monosporascus root rot and vine decline was developed. Inocula of two isolates were grown in wheat seeds medium and served for pathogenicity test on watermelon (cv. Charleston gray) using 5 inoculum densities (50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 g of infected wheat seeds/kg of peat). Disease severity was evaluated based on root disease index (RDI), plant height (PH), shoot and root fresh and dry weights (SFW, RFW, SDW, and RDW). Significant differences in RDI records were noted among the 5 inoculum densities tested as compared to the non-inoculated control, and they were negatively correlated with PH, TDW and RDW. Pathogenicity tests on Armenian cucumber (Fakous), muskmelon (cvs. Flamengo and Dziria), watermelon (cv. Charleston gray), and two Cucurbita maxima x C. moschata rootstocks (cvs. Strongtoza and Emphasis), were conducted at the inoculum density of 200 g of inoculum/kg of peat. Characteristic symptoms of the disease were reproduced and the range of responses to M. cannonballus corresponded to those reported by previous research. Watermelon was susceptible to the pathogen, while Cucurbita hybrid rootstocks were the most tolerant. Evaluation of the resistance to M. cannonballus of eight Cucurbita hybrid rootstocks was conducted in a greenhouse experiment with 200 g of inoculum/kg of peat. All rootstocks evaluated seemed to response similarly for the RDI. However, no significant difference was noted for the other evaluated parameters.

Keywords

• Monosporascus root rot and vine decline of cucurbits
• pathogenicity
• rootstocks
• soilborne pathogen