Fusarium wilt is a major disease of watermelon (Citrulluslanatus) caused by Fusariumoxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon). Use of host resistance is the most effective management strategy for the disease, and a major objective for
breeding programs. Screening assays rely on the ability to discriminate
resistant and susceptible genotypes in segregating populations. However, complexinteractions between Fon and the soil
environment can influence symptom development and disease severity rating. In
the current study, severity of Fusarium wilt (race 1) in sand-peat (1:1 v/v),
sand-perlite (1:1), sand-peat-vermiculite (4:1:1), peat-perlite (1:1)
and Fafard 3B potting media was compared among five watermelon cultivars:
Calhoun Gray (resistant), SunSugar
(resistant), Allsweet (moderately resistant), Sugar Baby (susceptible) and
Charleston Gray (susceptible). Plant biomass (average dry weight/plant) was
lowest in peat-perlite (1.67g) and
sand-peat (2.16 g), and was significantly different (α = 0.05) from that of sand-perlite (3.48 g), sand-peat-vermiculite
(4.94 g) and Fafard 3B (6.90 g). Conversely, disease severity [area under disease
progress curve (AUDPC)] across cultivars was significantly higher in
peat-perlite (AUDPC = 62.96) and sand-peat (AUDPC = 40.87), than in
sand-perlite (AUDPC = 11.55), sand-peat-vermiculite (AUDPC = 10.67) and Fafard
3B (AUDPC = 9.29). Consistent discrimination (α = 0.05) of resistant and susceptible cultivars was realized
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