Rootstock resistance to fusarium wilt and effect on fruit yield and quality of two muskmelon cultivars

• Published in: Scientia horticulturae Vol. 93; no. 3; pp. 281 - 288
• Main Authors: Trionfetti Nisini, P., Colla, G., Granati, E., Temperini, O., Crinò, P., Saccardo, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 19-04-2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Cucumis melo; Disease resistance; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis; General agronomy. Plant production; Grafting; Vegetative propagation. Micropropagation; Vegetative propagation. Sowing and planting. Harvesting; Disease resistance; Cucumis melo; Grafting; Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis; Production quality; Plant pathogen; Fruit; Interspecific comparison; Cucurbitaceae; Rootstock; Benincasa hispida; Biological productivity; Fungus resistance; Inoculation; Sensitivity resistance; Fruit crop; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Cucurbita moschata; Cucurbita maxima; Spermatophyta; Cucumis metuliferus; Intraspecific comparison; Yield component; Cultivar
• ISSN: 0304-4238; 1879-1018
• DOI: 10.1016/S0304-4238(01)00335-1

Pending the release of new genetic material with satisfactory resistance, grafting techniques may represent a quick, though expensive method for controlling race 1,2 of
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.
melonis in Italian growing regions of melon (
Cucumis melo L.). We evaluated the potential of grafting for resistance to this pathogen in 13 commercial melon rootstocks and various
Cucurbitaceae spp. and determined productivity and fruit quality characteristics of grafting on resistant rootstocks. Following inoculation, P360 and PGM 96-05 commercial rootstocks, as well as
Benincasa hispida,
Cucumis metuliferus,
Cucumis ficifolius,
Cucurbita maxima,
Cucurbita moschata, and
Lagenaria siceraria were resistant to the race 1,2 of Fusarium. Yield and quality attributes of scion cultivars (Supermarket and Proteo) grafted on P360 and PGM 96-05 rootstocks were not improved relative to ungrafted controls. Grafts onto
B. hispida negatively influenced both yield and fruit quality, while
C. metuliferus, and
C. zeyheri had negative impacts on productivity and fruit quality, respectively. These results indicate that rootstock influences on disease resistance as well as productivity and quality of scion fruit are important in determining the potential utility of grafting applications.