ISHS Acta Horticulturae 492: I International Symposium on Cucurbits
FUSARIUM WILT OF MELON, A WORLDWIDE PROBLEM IN TEMPERATE AND TROPICAL REGIONS |
| Author: | Thomas A. ZITTER |
| Keywords: | Melon, Cucumis melo L., Fusarium oxysporum, fungal desease |
| Abstract:
Fusarium wilt of melon (Cucumis melo L.) is caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum Schlechtend.:Fr. f. sp. melonis (Leach & Currence) W. C. Snyder & H. N. Hans. Four physiological races of Fusarium wilt are known to infect melons worldwide. They have been designated 0, 1, 2, and 1,2, and all four races are known to occur in different countries/regions of the world. Two genes for resistance, Fom 1 and Fom 2, are currently used to identify races of the pathogen. Race 2 still predominates in the United States, but the race composition has changed dramatically in the last 10 years. Race 2 was essentially the only race known in North America until 1985 when race 1 was discovered in Maryland. Race 1 has subsequently been found in New York (1992), in the Central Valley of California (1996), and in Ontario, Canada (1996). In addition to physiologic races, the diversity of F. o. melonis has been assessed by differences in vegetative compatibility; eight vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) have been identified worldwide. Some VCGs are associated with one or more races; in Europe, all four races are associated with VCG 0134. Recently identified isolates of race 1 and 1,2 in the U. S. were associated with VCG 0134, which was previously unknown in North America. VCG 0134 is common in Europe, suggesting that the new races were introduced from there. | |
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