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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #391366
Research Project: Genetics and Breeding of Lettuce, Spinach, Melon, and Related Species to Improve Production and Consumer-related Traits

Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research

Title: Development and availability of a melon differential set for determination of virulence variation of cucurbit powdery mildews (Podosphaera xanthii and Golovinomyces orontii)

Author
item LEBEDA, ALES - Palacky University
item SEDLAKOVA, BOZENA - Palacky University
item KRISTKOVA, EVA - Palacky University
item McCreight, James - Jim
item DEN HERTOG, MAARTEN - Rijk Zwaan Breeding Bv
item REITSMA, KATHLEEN - Iowa State University

Submitted to: Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/17/2022
Publication Date: 6/11/2022
Citation: Lebeda, A., Sedlakova, B., Kristkova, E., McCreight, J.D., Den Hertog, M., Reitsma, K. 2022. Development and availability of a melon differential set for determination of virulence variation of cucurbit powdery mildews (Podosphaera xanthii and Golovinomyces orontii). Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report. 44:15–19.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cucurbit powdery mildew (CPM), a disease of field and greenhouse cucurbit crops worldwide, is caused most frequently by the two obligate erysiphaceous ectoparasites Golovinomyces orontii (Go) and Podosphaera xanthii (Px) that greatly vary in their ecology, specificity of host-pathogen interactions and virulence. Characterization of the virulence variation is basic to understanding host-pathogen interactions and developing strategies for CPM resistance breeding. To this end, the International Cucurbit Powdery Mildew Initiative (ICPMI) was organized to establish a set of melon CPM race differentials that would provide an objective and uniform means for race identification and denomination. ICPMI established a triple septet of 21 open-pollinated differentials that was later expanded to include a fourth septet with the addition of another differential. Open-pollinated melon cultivars, varieties, land races and “wild” accessions exhibit phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity. The differentials were, therefore, made homogeneous through a series of self-pollinations and rouging based on phenotypic traits and a set of molecular markers spaced across the melon genome. Twenty-one of the 22 differentials have been deposited in the USDA–NPGS for distribution as a set to interested parties upon request and in compliance with applicable quarantine protocols. The sole remaining differential is in the process of being increased and will be added to the set when received by NPGS; a heterogeneous sample of it can be obtained via a separate request from the general NPGS melon collection.