A screening test for Mycosphaerella brassicicola on Brassica oleracea

A greenhouse screening method for resistance to ringspot (Mycosphaerella brassicicola) inBrassica oleracea is described. High infection levels were achieved by spraying young plants by mycelial inoculum enriched with 3% sucrose. The screening method was tested on three Brussels sprouts, three cabbage and three cauliflower cultivars, with known reactions to ringspot in the field. Resistance was expressed both in cotyledons and true leaves by a lower number of lesions than the susceptible control and/or by hypersensitive reactions. Results of the seedling tests reflected differences in resistance in the field. Under controlled conditions the new test can be applied year-round to young plants, thus accelerating selection procedures.