Screening of Resistance Melon Germplasm to Phytotpthora Rot caused by Phytophthora Capsici

Abstract

Melon (Cucumis melo) is an annual herbaceous plant of the family Cucurbitaceae. Phytophthora rot, caused by Phytophthora capsici is a serious threat to cucurbits crops production as it directly infects the host plant, and it is difficult to control because of variable pathogenicity. This study investigated the resistance of 450 accessions of melon germplasm against Phytophthora rot by inoculating the seedlings with sporangial suspension (<TEX>$10^{5\;or\;6}$</TEX> zoosporangia/ml) of P. capsici. Disease incidence of Phytophthora rot was observed on the melon germplasm at 7-day intervals for 35 days after inoculation. Susceptible melon germplasm showed either severe symptoms of stem and root rot or death of the whole plant. Twenty out of 450 tested accessions showed less than 20% disease incidence, of which five accessions showed a high level of resistance against Phytopthtora rot. Five resistant accessions, namely IT119813, IT138016, IT174911, IT174927, and IT906998, scored 0% disease incidence under high inoculum density of P. capsici (<TEX>$10^6$</TEX> zoosporangia/mL). We recommend that these candidate melon germplasm may be used as genetic resources in the breeding of melon varieties resistant to Phytophthora rot.