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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Griffin, Georgia » Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #159530
Title: EVALUATION OF SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER GERMPLASM FOR RESISTANCE TO POWDERY MILDEW

Author
item Morris, John - Brad
item CUNFER, B - UNIVERSITY OF GA

Submitted to: Biological and Cultural Tests for Control of Plant Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2006
Publication Date: 4/19/2006
Citation: Morris, J.B., Cunfer, B.M. 2006. Evaluation of subterranean clover germplasm for resistance to powdery mildew. American Phytopathological Society, B&C Tests, Vol 21:FC058, p. 1

Interpretive Summary: Subterranean clover has multiple functions including forage, cover cropping, green manure crop, and a source of pharmaceutical products. The USDA, ARS, PGRCU subterranean clover collection has never been evaluated for powdery mildew resistance, even though this disease causes serious losses with 10% reductions in forage yields and quality. We evaluated 271 subterranean clover accessions in a greenhouse for powdery mildew resistance in 2000 and 2002. More than 66 accessions were found to be either resistant or moderately resistant to powdery mildew.

Technical Abstract: Powdery mildew is an important disease of subterranean clover in many areas where it is grown. The USDA, ARS, PGRCU conserves 311 subterrannean clover accessions in Griffin, GA. This collection has never been evaluated for resistance to powdery mildew. The objective of this study was to determine if accessions of subterranean clover in the USDA, ARS, National Plant Germplasm System are resistant to powdery mildew. A total of 271 subterranean clover accessions originating from the Mediteranean area were evaluated in the greenhouse for powdery mildew resistance in 2000 and 2002. Sixty-six accessions from Australia, France, Greece, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, and the United States were highly resistant to powdery mildew. These highly resistant accessions could be used in breeding programs to develop powdery mildew resistant cultivars.