Performance ofAphis Fabae on Chocolate Spot Disease-Infected Faba Bean Plants

The effect of chocolate spot disease (incited byBotrytis fabae) on the host plant quality of two cultivars of faba beans (Vicia faba) for the black bean aphid (Aphis fabae), was investigated under greenhouse conditions. Faba bean cultivar Bolero is resistant to the aphid, whereas cv. Diana is susceptible. On healthy leaves of cv. Bolero, aphids completed their development one day later than the aphids reared on infected leaves of this cultivar and those which matured on healthy or infected leaves of cv. Diana. Mean weight of apterous virginoparae, mean relative growth rate, and intrinsic rate of natural increase were enhanced if the aphids were reared on infected leaves of either cultivar. Mean total progeny per female increased only on infected leaves of cv. Bolero, but not on cv. Diana.     

Resistance of lettuce and related species to anthracnose (Microdochium panattonianum) in Australia

All 35 commercial lettuce cultivars available in Australia, two cultivars of chicory, one cultivar of endive and single accessions of Lactuca saligna, L. serriola and Sonchus oleraceus were tested for susceptibility to Microdochium panattonianum under glasshouse and field conditions. Under controlled environmental conditions log lesion density on cv. Cos Verdi was linearly related to log inoculum concentration. Inocula from L. saliva and L. serriola were cross-infective but did not infect the single accessions of L. saligna and S. oleraceus tested. All lettuce cultivars were susceptible. Some cultivars showed a relatively greater increase in susceptibility than others at an increased inoculum concentration. Latent periods for different cultivars ranged from 3 to 7 days under glasshouse conditions and from 8 to more than 17 days in a field trial. There was poor correlation between glasshouse and field trials for the disease rating of cultivars. Chicory, endive and the L. saligna accession were immune (symptomless) and the L. serriola accession was highly resistant. The results indicate that L. saligna, L. serriola. endive and chicory are possible sources of genes for resistance to M. panattonianum.     

Effects of cultivar mixtures on scab control in apple orchards

The effects of two mixtures of resistant and susceptible apple cultivars on the development of scab caused by Venturia inequalis were observed in an experimental orchard over four years, initially for two years without fungicides against scab, and subsequently for two years with a moderate fungicide schedule. The row-by-row and within-row mixtures included a susceptible cultivar and a resistant cultivar in equal proportions. Without fungicides, the results showed a significant reduction of disease incidence over both years (7·3 to 21·3%), and severity in the second year (35·4%) in the within-row mixtures, compared to the monoculture of the susceptible cultivar. The best results were obtained when the within-row mixture was associated with moderate fungicide treatments; in this case the reduction in disease incidence reached 75·1% on leaves and 69·7% on fruits during the growth phase. The characteristics of the Venturia inaequalis / Malus  ×  domestica pathosystem and the results obtained in this experiment suggest a moderate but not negligible ability of cultivar mixtures for reducing epidemics of the disease.     

Variation in susceptibility of lettuce cultivars to fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lactucae

Lettuce cultivars adapted to Californian growing conditions were screened for resistance to fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lactucae in order to determine if differences in susceptibility among currently grown cultivars might contribute to management of this disease. Based on a preliminary evaluation of 46 cultivars, eight that were among the most resistant of their horticultural type (iceberg, romaine or leaf) were selected for further testing. The relative susceptibility of these cultivars was assessed by: (i) root-dip inoculation, (ii) sowing seeds into infested potting mix and (iii) transplanting seedlings into an infested field. Evaluations of disease severity showed that both methods (i) and (ii) produced cultivar rankings that were significantly correlated with rankings from field trials [method (iii)]. Two romaine and two leaf cultivars were highly resistant to fusarium wilt (mean disease severity rating of ≤1·3 on a 1–4 scale) under all test conditions. Other romaine and leaf cultivars, however, were highly susceptible in root–dip tests, so there was no consistent association between cultivar type and susceptibility to fusarium wilt. Likewise, there was considerable variation in susceptibility to wilt among iceberg cultivars, but all were significantly more susceptible than the most resistant romaine and leaf cultivars.     

The potential of nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum and other biological control organisms for suppressing fusarium wilt of banana

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of nonpathogenic F. oxysporum and Trichoderma isolates from suppressive soils in South Africa to suppress fusarium wilt of banana in the glasshouse. Several biological control agents and commercial biological control products were included in the study. The isolates were first screened in vitro on potato dextrose agar. In glasshouse evaluations, the fungal and bacterial isolates were established on banana roots before they were replanted in pathogen-infested soil, while the commercial biocontrol agents were applied as directed by the supplier. Banana plantlets were evaluated for disease development after 7 weeks. In vitro tests showed none of the nonpathogenic isolates suppressed Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense ( Foc ), while slight suppression was observed with the two Trichoderma isolates. Results of the glasshouse evaluations revealed that two of the nonpathogenic F. oxysporum isolates, CAV 255 and CAV 241, reduced fusarium wilt incidence by 87·4 and 75·0%, respectively. The known biological control agent Fo47 did not suppress Foc significantly. Pseudomonas fluorescens strain WCS 417, known for its ability to suppress other fusarium wilt diseases (WCS 417), reduced disease incidence by 87·4%. These isolates should be further evaluated for potential application in the field, independently and in combination.     

Integrated control of Allium white rot with Trichoderma viride, tebuconazole and composted onion waste

Two isolates of Trichoderma viride (L4 and S17A) were assessed for biological control of Allium white rot (AWR) with different onion accessions and cultivars, alone and in combination with a tebuconazole-based seed treatment or composted onion waste. In glasshouse tests, 23 new bulb-onion accessions from previous work to detect resistance to Sclerotium cepivorum showed no differences in susceptibility to AWR but, when combined with S17A, disease was reduced by up to two-thirds over all accessions. Trichoderma viride L4 and S17A also reduced the proportion of infected plants for five commercial bulb-onion cultivars and one advanced breeding line by at least one-third. Further glasshouse tests using a salad-onion cultivar showed that L4, S17A, tebuconazole or composted onion waste controlled AWR and at least halved the proportion of diseased plants. Combination treatments of T. viride with either tebuconazole or compost enhanced control and, in some treatments, disease was almost eliminated. In field trials, control of AWR by S17A was significant for 17 out of 18 individual or mixed bulb-onion accessions, with disease reduced overall by more than half. In another field experiment, S17A failed significantly to reduce AWR for two out of three commercial bulb-onion cultivars, while tebuconazole reduced the final proportion of AWR-infected plants over all cultivars from 0·47 to 0·09. Combining S17A and tebuconazole resulted in a similar level of AWR to using tebuconazole alone. The use of T. viride in an integrated strategy with other treatments to enhance control of S. cepivorum is discussed.     

Modelling the spread of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris in module-raised brassica transplants

A series of experiments was performed to quantify the rate of dispersal of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris in module-raised brassica transplants, in a simulated commercial plant-raising system. Seeds were sown in '308' module seed trays and set out in blocks in the glasshouse. Primary inoculum was introduced as inoculated seeds sown in one or more cells. Trays were watered via an overhead-gantry irrigation system, hand-watered or capillary-watered. Disease symptoms were monitored visually and the presence of the pathogen on samples of plants was monitored by leaf washing, dilution and plating on selective medium. Spread of symptoms was greatest in the gantry-watered trays, was very limited in hand-watered trays and was almost non-existent in capillary-watered trays. Dispersal of bacteria followed a similar pattern, but the proportion of plants contaminated was much greater than the proportion showing symptoms, and approached 100% after six weeks in the gantry-watered trays within 50 plants distance from a single primary infector. Models relating the proportion of plants with symptoms, or contaminated, to the distance from primary infector and time since sowing were fitted to the data. Predictions of the proportions of plants contaminated in commercial-scale blocks of transplants suggested that high levels of disease in the field could be explained by rapid rates of pathogen spread during plant-raising, and that the widely-used tolerance standard for seed health testing (0·01%) should be revised to 0·004%. In addition to seed health testing, control should focus on raising transplants under conditions that minimise the rates of disease spread and pathogen dispersal.     

Reaction of Brassica juncea (Indian Mustard) Lines to Australian Isolates of Leptosphaeria maculans under Glasshouse and Field Conditions

Brassica juncea (Indian mustard) lines from diverse geographical locations around the world and from Australian breeding programs were screened for resistance to the blackleg fungus, Leptosphaeria maculans, in both glasshouse and field trials. The five Australian L. maculans isolates used in glasshouse trials could be classified into two groups; those that attacked all B. juncea lines, and those that attacked none. All these isolates caused lesions on cotyledons of B. napus cultivars including Westar, Glacier and Quinta, suggesting that they are in Pathogenicity Group 4 as described by Koch et al. (1991). The two isolates that attacked B. juncea also attacked B. napus lines to a similar extent, but did not attack the two B. carinata lines tested. Brassica lines were sown in a blackleg disease nursery at Lake Bolac, Victoria, Australia, and five indicators of blackleg disease were measured (survival rate, disease rating, disease incidence, external and internal lesion length). All 92 B. juncea lines developed blackleg symptoms. Although they displayed a high disease incidence in the field, almost all of the B. juncea lines were more blackleg-resistant than a B. napus cultivar, Dunkeld, which is amongst the most resistant cultivars in commercial production in Australia. Four B. carinata lines were more resistant than any of the B. juncea lines, suggesting that this species may be a useful source of blackleg resistance in B. napus breeding programs.     

Two‐component cultivar mixtures reduce rice blast epidemics in an upland agrosystem

The effect of two‐component rice cultivar mixtures on the control of rice blast disease was studied in three different experiments under rainfed upland conditions in the Madagascar Highlands. The mixtures involved a susceptible cultivar (either susceptible or very susceptible) and a resistant cultivar in different mixture arrangements (random or row mixtures) and with different proportions of the susceptible cultivar (50, 20 and 16·7%), which were compared to the susceptible cultivar grown in a pure stand. The effect of these mixtures on the incidence and severity of leaf and panicle blast was measured weekly, and on yield and yield components at harvest time. The mixture effect was more efficient in reducing disease with a proportion of 16·7% susceptible component than with a proportion of 50%. Blast epidemic was significantly reduced in all three experiments. However, under high blast pressure, there was no reduction in the disease by the end of the epidemic and yields of the susceptible cultivar were almost zero whatever the mixture. In two other experiments performed under lower blast pressure, disease incidence and severity were significantly lower in mixtures, and yields of the susceptible cultivars grown in mixtures were higher than those of their respective pure stands. Cultivar mixtures are a promising strategy that could contribute to a more sustainable cultivation of rice under upland conditions in the context of subsistence agriculture in Madagascar, where all cropping operations are manual.     

Somaclonal selection in potato for resistance to common scab provides concurrent resistance to powdery scab

Variant somaclones of potato cultivar Russet Burbank, selected for resistance to common scab using in vitro cell selection techniques, were tested for resistance to powdery scab, another important disease of potato caused by Spongospora subterranea. This pathogen also invades roots, producing root galls. Most variants consistently showed increased resistance to powdery scab, both in field and glasshouse challenge, when compared to the parental cultivar, several significantly so. On average, the best variant reduced powdery scab incidence by 51% and severity (tuber surface coverage) by 64%. In contrast, no improvement in the extent of root infection and root galling was seen. These results suggest host interactions during root and tuber infection are distinct. Correlation analyses of disease indices amongst the selected variants showed no association between Sp. subterranea root infection and gall scores, nor between root infection and tuber disease severity. However, a weak positive association was found between root gall score and tuber disease, and a strong correlation between tuber disease incidence and severity scores. Interestingly, positive correlations were also found between the extent of powdery and common scab resistance expressed and both incidence and severity of these diseases within the variants, suggesting a common defence mechanism. The role of thaxtomin A in selecting for concurrent resistance to both diseases is discussed.     

Leaf scald (Xanthomonas albilineans) incidence and its effect on yield in seven sugarcane cultivars in Guadeloupe

Seven 5—month-old sugarcane cultivars difTering in resistance to leaf scald disease were inoculated by the decapitation technique with Xanthomonas albilineans. The effects of disease progress and incidence on yields were studied for the plant (first harvest) and two ratoon crops (second and third harvest). The percentage of diseased stalks and disease severity at first harvest 5 months after inoculation were 0·7 and 0·4, respectively, for the most resistant cultivar and 71·0% and 63·3, respectively, for the most susceptible cultivar. They decreased in all cultivars in both ratoon crops, but were still important in one cultivar (B69379). Significant ( P = 0·05) yield reductions of 12% and 21% occurred in two of the seven cultivars (B69566 and B69379, respectively). The number of symptomatic sugarcane stalks in the first ratoon crop (second harvest) was lower than the number of stalks colonized by the pathogen. Symptoms and yield losses of cultivars R570 and B69566 varied with the crop. Yield losses occurred in cultivar R570 only in the plant crop when this cultivar displayed numerous symptoms. Cultivar B69566 appeared to recover from the disease to a certain extent from the plant to the second ratoon crop (third harvest), as did the resistant cultivars in the first ratoon crop. In contrast, severe leaf scald symptoms were observed in the case of cultivar B69379 regardless of the crop, and significant yield losses occurred in the two ratoon crops. These results support the recommendation that cultivar B69379 should not be replanted in Guadeloupe.     

Selection of virulent populations of Meloidogyne javanica by repeated cultivation of Mi resistance gene tomato rootstocks under field conditions

Field trials were conducted in a plastic house artificially infested with an avirulent population of Meloidogyne javanica to determine the durability of the resistance mediated by the Mi gene in tomato rootstocks after repeated cultivation for three consecutive years. Treatments included an experimental rootstock cv. PG76 ( Solanum lycopersicum  ×  Solanum sp.), a commercial rootstock cv. Brigeor ( S. lycopersicum  ×  S. habrochaites ), a resistant tomato cv. Monika ( S. lycopersicum ), and a susceptible cv. Durinta ( S. lycopersicum ). Based on the reproduction index (RI: number of eggs per g root on the resistant cultivar divided by number of eggs per g root on the susceptible cultivar × 100), rootstock cv. PG76 responded as highly resistant (RI = 7%) after the first cropping cycle (3·4 nematode generations), showed intermediated resistance (RI = 33%) after the second cropping cycle (3·3 generations), and was fully susceptible (RI = 94%) after the third cycle (3·3 generations). In contrast, rootstock cv. Brigeor and resistant cv. Monika retained intermediate resistance levels (RI = 41 and 25%, respectively) after the third cropping cycle. Virulent nematode populations were rapidly selected from an avirulent one after repeated cultivation of resistant tomatoes under field conditions. Bioassays conducted under controlled conditions confirmed that selection for virulence occurred more rapidly in plots with cv. PG76 followed by Brigeor and Monika. The nematode population in the field not exposed to Mi resistance remained avirulent to Mi genotypes. The genetic background of the resistant rootstocks and the frequency of cropping were critical factors for the appearance of virulent nematode populations. Irrespective of nematode infection, all resistant tomatoes yielded more than the susceptible cultivar.     

Evaluation of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) resistance to Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus in controlled greenhouse conditions

Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) seems to be the causal agent of apricot viruela disease. This disease has become an important problem for apricot production in Spain, mainly affecting the ‘Búlida’ cultivar, although no information is available about the behaviour of other cultivars with regards to ACLSV. In this study, the behaviour of 29 apricot cultivars against ACLSV (Apr 62 isolate) was evaluated under controlled conditions in an insect-proof greenhouse. Three different rootstocks, ‘GF305’ peach, ‘Real Fino’ apricot and ‘Adesoto’ plum, were first inoculated by grafting ACLSV-infected bark and were later grafted with the apricot cultivar to be evaluated. Apricot cultivars were evaluated during three cycles of study. ACLSV was asymptomatic on the leaves of all cultivars and rootstocks, so level of susceptibility or resistance was determined by virus detection through RT-PCR. ‘GF305’ rootstock showed a greater susceptibility level than ‘Real Fino’ and ‘Adesoto’. Most of the cultivars were susceptible to ACLSV with different levels of susceptibility, and only ‘Bergeron’ and ‘Mauricio’ were resistant.     

Spatial and temporal spread of powdery mildew (Erysiphe pisi) in peas (Pisum sativum) varying in quantitative resistance

A field experiment was conducted to assess the progress in time and spread in space of powdery mildew (caused by Erysiphe pisi ) in pea ( Pisum sativum ) cultivars differing in resistance to the disease. Disease severity (proportion of leaf area infected) was measured in 19 × 23 m plots of cultivars Pania and Bolero (both susceptible) and Quantum (quantitatively resistant). Inoculum on infected plants was introduced into the centre of each plot. Leaves (nodes) were divided into three groups within the canopy (lower, middle, upper) at each assessment because of the large range in disease severity vertically within the plants. Disease severity on leaves at upper nodes was less than 4% until the final assessment 35 days after inoculation. Exponential disease progress curves were fitted to disease severity data from leaves at middle nodes. The mean disease relative growth rate was greater on Quantum than on Pania or Bolero, but it was delayed, resulting in an overall lower disease severity on Quantum. Gompertz growth curves were fitted to disease progress on leaves at lower nodes. Disease progress on Quantum was delayed compared with Pania and Bolero. The average daily rates of increase in disease severity from Gompertz curves did not differ between the cultivars on these leaves. Disease gradients in the plots from the inoculum focus to 12 m were detected at early stages of the epidemic, but the effects of background inoculum inputs and the rate of disease progress meant that these gradients decreased with time as the disease epidemic intensified. Spread was rapid, and there were no statistically significant differences between cultivar isopathic rates (Pania 2.2, Quantum 2.9 and Bolero 4.0 m d⁻¹).     

Evaluation of different methods for the characterization of carrot resistance to the alternaria leaf blight pathogen (Alternaria dauci) revealed two qualitatively different resistances

Alternaria leaf blight (ALB), caused by Alternaria dauci, is one of the most damaging foliar diseases of carrot worldwide. The aim of this study was to compare different methods for evaluating levels of carrot resistance to ALB. Three techniques were investigated by comparison with a visual disease assessment control: in vivo conidial germination, a bioassay based on a drop‐inoculation method, and in planta quantification of fungal biomass by quantitative PCR (Q‐PCR). Three carrot cultivars showing different degrees of resistance to A. dauci were used, i.e. a susceptible cultivar (Presto) and two partially resistant genotypes (Texto and Bolero), challenged with an aggressive or a very aggressive isolate of A. dauci. Both partially resistant genotypes produced a higher mean number of germ tubes per conidium (up to 3·42±0·35) than the susceptible one (1·26±0·18). The drop‐inoculation results allowed one of the partially resistant genotypes (Bolero, log₁₀(S+1) = 1·34±0·13) to be distinguished from the susceptible one (1·90±0·13). By contrast, fungal growth measured by Q‐PCR clearly differentiated the two partially resistant genotypes with log₁₀(I) values of 2·77±0·13 compared to the susceptible cultivar (3·65±0·13) at 15 days post‐inoculation. This result was strongly correlated (r² = 0·91) with the disease severity index scored at the same date. Data obtained with the different assessment methods strongly suggest that the Texto and Bolero genotypes have different genetic resistance sources.     

Regulation of defense-related enzymes associated with bacterial spot resistance in Tomato

Twenty tomato (Solanum lycopersicon) cultivars were screened for resistance against bacterial spot disease incited byXanthomonas axonopodis pv.vesicatoria under field conditions with and without pathogen infection. Screening was done by artificially inoculating aX. axonopodis pv.vesicatoria suspension to 4-week-old tomato seedlings and observing them for typical symptoms of the disease. Seedlings were categorized into highly resistant, resistant, susceptible and highly susceptible cultivars on the basis of disease incidence. Tomato cultivars were screened for defense-related enzymes, total phenols and lignin contents. The temporal patterns of all these enzymes were estimated with a moderately susceptible tomato cultivar. Native PAGE analysis of both peroxidase (POX) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was carried out for the time course of enzyme activities and also by selecting three different tomato cultivars, following infection with the pathogen. Based on the inducible amounts of these enzymes upon pathogen infection, the tomato cultivars were correlated with the disease incidence under field conditions. A significant (P≤0.05) correlation was observed between the degree of host resistance and the enzyme levels. In highly resistant tomato cultivars the enzyme levels, total phenols and lignin contents were increased in comparison with highly susceptible tomato cultivars. Isoform analysis of POX and PPO enzymes indicated a clear difference between resistant and susceptible tomato cultivars in the number of isoforms and also in the intensity of each isoform in the presence of pathogen infection. The possible regulation of defense-related enzymes in imparting host resistance is discussed. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting March 11, 2008.     

Evaluation of susceptibility of an olive progeny (Picholine x Meski) to olive leaf spot disease caused by Fusicladium oleagineum

Forty five descendants from a crossing between olive cultivar Picholine de Languedoc and the local cultivar Meski were evaluated for their susceptibility to olive leaf spot (Fusicladium oleagineum) in field and laboratory studies. Disease incidence varied greatly among the descendants and was correlated with the severity of leaf symptoms. Based on field observations and laboratory tests, the hybrids were classified into five groups: 1) very susceptible to the disease: Meski and 17H, 2) susceptible to the disease : 20J, 8I, 11I, 21I, 14H, 16H, 23H, 6J, 8J and 23J, 3) moderately resistant to the disease : 15I, 16I, 22I, 23I, 8K, 13H, 18H, 22H, 9J, 10J, 11J, 12J, 14J, 16J, 18J, 4) resistant to the disease: 21J, 12I, 13I, 18I, 19I, 9K, 10K, 12H, 15H, 19H, 15J and 22J, and completely resistant to the disease : cultivar Picholine and hybrids 6I and 19I. The analysis of anatomical parameters showed that the polyphenol content and composition were not correlated with disease incidence. However, the cuticle thickness and the trichome density are very important physical parameters that can determine the degree of susceptibility of hybrids to the disease. The assessment method may be useful to screen olive cultivars and hybrids for Fusicladium resistance.     

Fungicide responses of maize hybrids to grey leaf spot

Grey leaf spot disease of maize (Cercospora zeaemaydis) has seriously decreased grain yields in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and has spread to infect maize in neighbouring provinces. No commercial hybrids, resistant to the disease have so far been identified, and fungicides have been shown to reduce disease severity. The response of sixty-four commercial hybrids to grey leaf spot under fungicide treatment were studied over two seasons. Overall, fungicides reduced disease severity and linear regression of gain in yield against disease severity enables the identification of hybrids with optimum responses to fungicides. Under low disease levels hybrids responded less to fungicides than under high disease levels. The most susceptible hybrids had the highest responses in control of leaf-blighting and gain in yield. Hybrids with lower-than-predicted leaf-blighting also had lower-than-predicted yield responses, indicating these to be less susceptible to grey leaf spot. These less susceptible hybrids are likely to require fewer fungicide treatments than more susceptible hybrids and are at lesser risk of serious yield losses.Abbreviations GLS grey leaf spot - AUDPC area under disease progress curve     

Disease severity and yield of pure-line wheat cultivars and mixtures in the presence of eyespot, yellow rust, and their combination

Five winter wheat cultivars, six two-component cultivar mixtures, and one four-way mixture were grown in the presence of yellow rust, eyespot, both diseases, and neither disease for three seasons. On average, mixtures reduced the severity of yellow rust relative to their component pure stands by 53%. The four-component mixture provided better yellow rust control than did the two-way mixtures. Eyespot severity was reduced through mixing only in the absence of yellow rust and by only three of the seven mixtures (mean reduction = 13%). Yellow rust was 13% less severe in the presence of eyespot, and eyespot was 10% more severe in the presence of yellow rust. Averaged over all years, the mixtures increased yield relative to the pure stands by 6·2, 1·7, 7·1, and 1·3% in the presence of yellow rust, eyespot, both diseases, and neither disease, respectively. Two mixtures provided significant yield increases over the means of their component pure stands (7% and 9%) in the presence of eyespot even though one of them did not significantly reduce eyespot severity. Accounting for all disease treatments and years, four mixtures provided distinctly higher yield increases than the other three. In mixtures containing a resistant cultivar and a cultivar susceptible to eyespot, yield loss by the susceptible cultivar was not compensated for by increased yield of the resistant cultivar. The mixtures showed improved yield stability relative to the pure stands, with the four-component mixture being particularly stable.     

Screening tomato and cucurbit rootstocks for resistance to Verticillium dahliae*

Seedlings of tomato (19) and cucurbits (33), previously selected as rootstocks for commercial cultivars, were evaluated for their resistance to verticillium wilt under glasshouse conditions. Disease scoring was based on foliar symptoms, but in plants with no visual or ambiguous symptoms the presence of the pathogen was confirmed by isolations or PCR using specific DNA primers. Five of the cucurbit rootstocks showed resistance to infection, 11 were moderately infected, 11 were susceptible, while the remaining six were very susceptible. In general, Cucurbita pepo (courgette, pumpkin) and Lagenaria siceraria tolerated infection, Cucumis melo rootstocks were susceptible and Citrullus vulgaris was the most susceptible. When inoculated with race 1 of the pathogen, one of the tomato rootstocks was very resistant, three moderately resistant, nine tolerant, ten susceptible and one very susceptible. Pathogenicity tests with race 2 showed that none of the rootstocks exhibited high tolerance, but that there was some variation in susceptibility. Research is under way to evaluate the reaction of commercial cultivars to verticillium wilt when grafted onto resistant rootstocks.