Reactions of Cornell melon breeding lines to Cucumber mosaic virus and their horticultural qualities

Authors: KIM, MIKYEONG - Korean Rural Development Administration; MAZOUREK, MICHAEL - Cornell University; McCreight, James - Jim; Wintermantel, William - Bill

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/11/2018
Publication Date: 11/12/2018
Citation: Kim, M., Mazourek, M., McCreight, J.D., Wintermantel, W.M. 2018. Reactions of Cornell melon breeding lines to Cucumber mosaic virus and their horticultural qualities. Cucurbitaceae 2018, November 12-15, 2018, Davis, California.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) has been classified into major subgroups I and II. CMV subgroup I has reemerged as a concern for melon (Cucumis melo L.) production in California and Arizona. Twenty-five melon breeding lines developed by Cornell University for resistance to CMV were, therefore, evaluated for their reactions to CMV in a greenhouse test, and for horticultural quality and adaption to the Central Valley of California in a field test. Cotyledons of melon seedlings were mechanically inoculated with a CMV subgroup I isolate collected from infected melon plants in California. Plants were individually evaluated for their reaction to CMV as evidenced by mosaic symptoms, and by ELISA using commercial antiserum against CMV for quantification of virus titer. Eleven lines were susceptible, with rates of infection ranging from 78% to 100% (n ranged from 8 to 10). Eight lines may be considered to be segregating for resistance, with 1 to 6 infected plants (n ranged from 5 to 9). Six lines were uniformly resistant, with zero infected among 5 to 9 plants. The lines were planted 25 June 2018 in a field at University of California, Westside Research and Extension Center, Five Points, CA for evaluation of adaptation (plant size and condition) and 11 fruit quality traits in late August and early September. Fruit of one of the lines resembled Group Chandalak subgroup zami, while those of three other lines were characteristic of Group Inodorus subgroup honeydew. Fruit of most of the other lines could be considered members of Group Cantalupensis but could not readily be categorized as members of a particular subgroup. One of the honeydew lines segregated for resistance; the other two were susceptible. Fruit of the segregating honeydew line were smaller than desired for commercial production. Fruit of the six CMV-resistant Group Cantalupensis-type lines resembled subgroup American eastern, and were undersized compared with standard western shipping type cantaloupe (Group Cantalupensis subgroup American western). These tests identified the best CMV subgroup I-resistant melon breeding lines from the 25 Cornell CMV-resistant lines for continued introgression of CMV resistance into western U.S. shipping type cantaloupe and honeydew.