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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Citrus and Other Subtropical Products Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #353363
Research Project: Integrated Strategies for Managing Pests and Nutrients in Vegetable and Ornamental Production Systems

Location: Citrus and Other Subtropical Products Research

Title: Screening cucurbit rootstocks for varietal resistance to Meloidogyne spp. and Rotylenchulus reniformis

Author
item SMITH, CODY - University Of Florida
item FREEMAN, JOSHUA - University Of Florida
item Burelle, Nancy
item Wechter, William - Pat

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/18/2018
Publication Date: 1/1/2019
Citation: Smith, C., Freeman, J., Burelle, N.K., Wechter, W.P. 2019. Screening cucurbit rootstocks for varietal resistance to Meloidogyne spp. and Rotylenchulus reniformis. HortScience. 54(1):125-128. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI13094-18.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI13094-18

Interpretive Summary: Fusarium wilt has been a consistent problem in watermelon production worldwide. One method for combating this pathogen in the field is to graft a susceptible, high-yielding scion onto wilt resistant rootstocks. A concerning issue with rootstocks resistant to Fusarium wilt is that they have not been tested for their susceptibility to plant parasitic nematodes. Preliminary research has shown that many of Fusarium resistant rootstocks are highly susceptible to nematodes. We tested the rootstocks with resistance to Fusarium wilt for susceptibility to nematodes and found that several rootstocks had resistance to plant parasitic nematodes. These findings indicate that rootstocks may soon be available to manage both Fusarium wilt and nematodes in grafted cucurbits.

Technical Abstract: Fusarium wilt has been a consistent problem in watermelon production worldwide. One method for combating this pathogen in the field is to graft a susceptible, high-yielding scions onto wilt resistant rootstocks. A concerning issue with rootstocks resistant to Fusarium wilt is that they have not been tested for their susceptibility to plant parasitic nematodes. Preliminary research has shown that many of Fusarium resistant rootstocks are highly susceptible to nematodes. We tested the rootstocks with resistance to Fusarium wilt for susceptibility to nematodes and found that several rootstocks had resistance to plant parasitic nematodes. These findings indicate that rootstocks may soon be available to manage both Fusarium wilt and nematodes in grafted cucurbits.