Quantitative trait loci associated with isolate specific and isolate nonspecific partial resistance to Phoma macdonaldii in sunflower

Black stem, caused by Phoma macdonaldii , is one of the most important diseases of sunflower in the world. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) implicated in partial resistance to two single pycnidiospore isolates of P. macdonaldii (MP8 and MP10) were investigated using 99 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the cross between sunflower parental lines PAC2 and RHA266. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replications. High genetic variability and transgressive segregation were observed among RILs for partial resistance to P. macdonaldii isolates. QTL-mapping was performed using a recently developed high-density SSR/AFLP sunflower linkage map. A total of 10 QTLs were detected for black stem resistance. The phenotypic variance explained by each QTL (R²) was moderate, ranging from 6 to 20%. Four QTLs were common between two isolates on linkage group 5 and 15 whereas the others were specific for each isolate. Regarding isolate-specific and isolate-nonspecific QTLs detected for partial resistance, it is evident that both genetic effects control partial resistance to the disease isolates. This confirms the need to consider different isolates in the black stem resistance breeding programmes. The four SSR markers HA3700, SSU25, ORS1097 and ORS523_1 encompassing the QTLs for partial resistance to black stem isolates could be good candidates for marker assisted selection.     

法国向日葵种子中向日葵黑茎病菌的首次截获与检测

从法国进境向日葵种子中分离到3株疑似向日葵黑茎病的菌株,对所有菌株进行形态学、致病性测定和分子序列比对分析。分离菌菌落乳白色或象牙色至灰白色,有大量黑褐色分生孢子器产生,分生孢子器球形至扁球形,内含无色单胞、卵圆形分生孢子,有明显或不明显油球;针刺接种4片真叶向日葵幼苗的下胚轴,7～9d后茎部产生典型黑茎病黑色椭圆形病斑,病斑上着生黑色分生孢子器;菌丝DNA用ActF1/R1和ITS1/ITS4扩增,序列与NCBI基因库中P.macdonaldii序列相似性为98%～100%。形态学、分子生物学及致病性检测结果显示,截获的3株菌均为向日葵黑茎病菌。     

Identification of isolate-specific and partial resistance to septoria tritici blotch in 238 European wheat cultivars and breeding lines

From a total of 238 European cultivars and breeding lines screened for isolate-specific resistance to septoria tritici blotch (STB) with eight Mycosphaerella graminicola isolates from five different countries, 142 lines were resistant to Ethiopian isolate IPO88004, and 43 lines were specifically resistant to IPO323, with little or no leaf area bearing pycnidia of M. graminicola . These lines probably all have the resistance gene Stb6 . Specific resistances to isolates CA30JI, IPO001, IPO89011, IPO92006 and ISR398 were less common. Seventy-three per cent of the lines were specifically resistant to at least one isolate and 36 lines were resistant to more than one isolate. The line with the greatest number of specific resistances was the spring cultivar Raffles, with five. The most resistant line in which no specific resistance was identified was the Italian landrace Rieti, an ancestor of many modern European wheat cultivars. There was also a wide range of partial resistance among the lines tested, expressed in detached seedling leaves. Information about the resistance of wheat lines to M. graminicola isolates will assist breeders to choose parents of crosses from which progeny with superior resistance to STB may be selected.     

Etiology of a newly described root rot of guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) in Australia caused by Phytophthora cryptogea

An isolate of Phytophthora obtained from diseased roots and stems of guar ( Cyamopsis tetragonoloba ) growing in waterlogged soil from Dalby. Queensland. was identified as Phytophothora cryptogea ( P. drechsleri ). Sex organs were not observed, Pathogenicity to guar seedlings was established under glasshouse conditions either by using a hypocotyl-wound inoculation technique, or adding motile zoospores to seedlings growing under saturated conditions. This appears to be the first report of this disease. Seven isolates of P. drechsleri from hosts other than guar were shown to be pathogenic to guar following hypocotyls-wound inoculation.
The host range of the guar isolate was studied using both hypocotyl-wound inoculation and zoospores. After hypocotyl inoculation, the following species were found to be susceptible^: cantaloupe. cowpea, cucumber, mungbean, pea. pigeon-pea, safflower. sunflower, tomato and watermelon. Slight symptoms were observed on bean and chickpea. When zoospores were used as the inoculum, only pea. pigeon-pea, sunflower and safflower were highly susceptible. A range of guar cultivars and breeding lines were screened for resistance using zoospore inoculum, and although no genotypes were highly resistant, there were significant differences between disease reactions.     

Genetic variability within Phaeoisariopsis griseola from Central America and its implications for resistance breeding of common bean

The genetic and virulence variability of 112 isolates of Phaeoisariopsis griseola , collected from various locations in Central America, were studied using seven random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers and 12 common-bean differential genotypes. Broad molecular diversity ( H  = 0·92) among isolates was found using RAPD markers. Fifty pathotypes were identified on 12 differential bean genotypes, 29 of which were represented by only one isolate. Only 18 pathotypes were found in two or more countries. Pathotype 63-63 was the most virulent and caused leaf spots on all 12 common-bean differential genotypes. Comparison of virulence phenotypes and RAPD profiles to known Andean P. griseola isolates confirmed that all isolates belonged to the Mesoamerican group. Pairwise comparison between individual RAPD loci showed that the majority were in gametic phase linkage disequilibrium, revealing that P. griseola maintains a genetic structure that is consistent with asexual reproduction. The molecular and virulence diversities of P. griseola isolates from Central America imply that using single resistance genes to manage angular leaf spot is inadequate and stacking resistance genes may be necessary to manage the disease effectively.     

Genetic analysis of partial resistance to bacterial leaf streak (Xanthomonas campestris pv. cerealis) in wheat

Genetic variability of partial resistance to bacterial leaf streak was investigated in hexaploid winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum. ), using 16 parental genotypes and 48 pure lines (F10) derived from a composite cross programme. Two experiments were undertaken in a controlled growth chamber. Seeds of all genotypes were grown under controlled conditions using a randomized block design with three replications. Each replication consisted of a row of 20 seedlings of each parent and pure line. An Iranian strain of bacterial leaf streak was used for the inoculation of 12-day-old seedlings. In a third experiment, eight genotypes from parents and F10 pure lines representing a large variability for partial resistance were inoculated with four other Iranian strains of bacterial leaf streak. A large genetic variability was observed amongst the 64 genotypes for partial resistance to the disease. Partial resistance heritability estimates were rather high (70%), indicating that the resistance factors may be transmitted by crossing. Amongst all genotypes investigated, 'DC²-30-N2' and 'IBPT-66' displayed the highest partial resistance to the disease. Significant correlations between strains in the third experiment show that a genotype resistant or susceptible to one strain will have similar reactions with other strains. No significant genetic gain was observed for partial resistance in the best pure line of the 48 lines studied, when compared with the best parental line. Increasing the number of pure lines is likely to result in the identification of genotypes that might prove to be more resistant.     

Phenotypic variability of Leptosphaeria lindquistii (anamorph: Phoma macdonaldii), a fungal pathogen of sunflower

Growth of 17 isolates of Phoma macdonaldii , the causal agent of sunflower black stem, was investigated for response to pH and temperature, and for morphology and asexual morphogenesis (pycnidiogenesis and pycnidium size). For all isolates, the optimum pH for growth was between 4 and 5, and the optimum temperature varied between 20 and 30°C and radial growth was slowest at 5 and 35°C. Significant differences in the number and size of pycnidia were observed between isolates. Pycniospore germination was investigated under various conditions in five isolates chosen for their geographical origins, pigmentation, optimum growth temperature and pycnidiogenesis. Increasing the concentration from 10⁶ to 10⁷ pycniospores per mL decreased the germination rate. The optimum temperature for pycniospore germination varied between 15 and 30°C, depending on the isolate, and the optimum and maximum pH values were 5 and 7, respectively. The optimum and minimum relative humidities allowing pycniospore germination were 100 and 95%, respectively. Pycniospore germination was photo-independent. An artificial inoculation method was developed and the aggressiveness of the pathogen was assessed on a susceptible sunflower cultivar, using a 1–9 scale that integrated the percentage of necrotic area on the cotyledon petiole at the stage when the first pair of leaves was fully developed. Significant differences in aggressiveness were observed among the 17 isolates. The parameters investigated clearly suggest the occurrence of a wide phenotypic variability in Phoma macdonaldii .     

Phenotypic and molecular genetic characterization indicate no major race‐specific interactions between Xanthomonas translucens pv. graminis and Lolium multiflorum

Bacterial wilt of forage grasses, caused by the pathogen Xanthomonas translucens pv. graminis (Xtg), is a major disease of forage grasses such as Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum). The plant genotype‐bacterial isolate interaction was analysed to elucidate the existence of race‐specific responses and to assist the identification of plant disease resistance genes. In a greenhouse experiment, 62 selected plant genotypes were artificially inoculated with six different bacterial isolates. Significant differences in resistance were observed among L. multiflorum genotypes (P < 0·001) and in virulence (intensity of disease symptoms) among Xtg isolates (P < 0·001) using the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). No significant genotype‐isolate interaction (P > 0·05) could be observed using linear regression modelling. However, additive main effects and multiplicative interaction effects (ammi ) analysis revealed five genotypes which did not cluster close to the origin of the biplot, indicating specific interactions between these genotypes and some bacterial isolates. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to identify marker‐resistance associations using the same plant genotypes and bacterial isolates. The SSR marker NFA027 located on linkage group (LG) 5 was significantly associated with bacterial wilt resistance across all six bacterial isolates and explained up to 37·4% of the total variance of AUDPC values. Neither the inoculation experiment nor the SSR analyses revealed major host genotype‐pathogen isolate interactions, thus suggesting that Xtg resistance, observed so far, is effective across a broad range of different bacterial isolates and plant genotypes.     

Variation in Virulence Within Meloidogyne chitwoodi, M. fallax, and M. hapla on Solanum spp

ABSTRACT The virulence of Meloidogyne hapla, M. chitwoodi, and M. fallax was studied on genotypes of Solanum spp. in a greenhouse. Juveniles of 11 M. hapla race A isolates, 3 M. hapla race B isolates, and 5 mono-female lines of a M. hapla race A isolate were inoculated on S. chacoense, S. hougasii, and S. sparsipilum. Juveniles of eight M. chitwoodi isolates, five M. fallax isolates, and six mono-female lines of a M. chitwoodi isolate were inoculated on S. bulbocastanum, S. chacoense, S. hougasii, S. stoloniferum, and S. tuberosum. Virulence was expressed as nematode reproduction 8 weeks after inoculation. Nematode reproduction was estimated by the number of egg masses and, in one experiment, by the number of hatched second-stage juveniles per inoculated juvenile. Considerable variation in virulence and resistance was observed among M. hapla isolates and plant genotypes, respectively. The M. hapla isolate-plant species interaction was highly significant. The response to M. chitwoodi ranged from susceptible (S. tuberosum and S. chacoense) to highly resistant (S. bulbocastanum and S. hougasii). S. tuberosum was susceptible to M. fallax, whereas all four wild species were resistant. In contrast to M. hapla, no significant isolate-plant genotype interaction was obtained for M. chitwoodi or M. fallax, indicating no or little intraspecific variation in virulence. M. chitwoodi juveniles in species mixtures with M. fallax isolates appeared to be able to break the resistance of S. bulbocastanum and S. hougasii. Significant differences among mono-female lines of M. hapla and M. chitwoodi were observed, indicating heterogeneity of pathogenicity within meiotic parthenogenic Meloidogyne populations.     

Diversity and variation in expression of resistance to Erysiphe fischeri in Senecio vulgaris

The reactions of 20 inbred lines of Senecio vulgaris (groundsel) to inoculation with up to 10 isolates of Erysiphe fischeri (powdery mildew) were investigated in a number of repeat experiments. There was considerable variation among isolate/plant line reaction phenotypes with examples of both isolate-specific complete resistance and isolate-specific partial resistance. Some plant lines possessed high levels of partial resistance to all isolates tested. Incubation temperature and plant age influenced the infection types of some isolate/plant line combinations. In this pathosystem, complete and partial resistance, together with age-dependent and temperature-dependent resistance, appear to have evolved to facilitate a defence strategy based on a complex mosaic of interacting factors.     

Changes in specific virulence in Polish populations ofPhytophthora infestans: 1985–1991

Ninety-five isolates ofPhytophthora infestans collected throughout Poland during 1985–1991 and characterized for multilocus genotypes based on mating type, allozymes and DNA fingerprint, were analyzed for specific virulence to differential potato cultivars carrying ten major resistance genes. The multilocus analysis led to three groupings. The first group contained 22 isolates of a clonal lineage (PO-1) that is postulated to have been present in Europe during most of the twentieth century, but PO-1 isolates were recovered in Poland only during 1985–1988. This group contained, on average, virulence to 5.5 specific resistance genes per isolate. The second group consisted of 30 isolates in a clonal lineage (PO-4) that had not been detected before 1988. PO-4 isolates had virulence to a mean of 6.5 resistance genes per isolate. The third group was composed of 43 isolates representing 38 multilocus genotypes also not detected before 1988. These diverse genotypes had virulence to an average of 6.7 specific resistance genes per isolate. More than half (53%) of the PO-4 isolates shared a single pathotype. The group of 43 isolates was dominated by two pathotypes: the most common one (47% of the isolates) was the same pathotype that dominated PO-4 isolates; the next most common one (21%) differed from the most common one by the absence of virulence to resistance gene R5. The recent immigrant isolates (not detected before 1988) generally had virulence to a greater number of specific resistance genes than did isolates in the previous population [detected before 1988 (PO-1)]. Recent immigrant populations were dominated by one or two pathotypes, so their pathotypic diversity values were somewhat less than that of the previous population.     

Sources of resistance to septoria tritici blotch and implications for wheat breeding

Twenty-four wheat cultivars and breeding lines were screened for isolate-specific resistance to septoria tritici blotch (STB) caused by 12 isolates of Mycosphaerella graminicola. New isolate-specific resistances that could be used in wheat breeding were identified. Major sources of resistance to STB used in world breeding programmes for decades, such as Kavkaz-K4500, Veranopolis, Catbird and TE9111, have several isolate-specific resistances. This suggests that 'pyramiding' several resistance genes in one cultivar may be an effective and durable strategy for breeding for resistance to STB in wheat. Several cultivars, including Arina, Milan and Senat, had high levels of partial resistance to most isolates tested as well as isolate-specific resistances. Resistance to isolate IPO323 was common, present in all but one of the major sources of resistance tested. This suggests that resistance to IPO323 may be an indicator of varietal resistance to STB in the field.     

Further Contributions to the Development of a Differential Set of Pea Cultivars (Pisum sativum) to Investigate the Virulence of Isolates of Aphanomyces euteiches

Common root rot (Aphanomyces euteiches Drechs.) has become a very destructive disease in the French pea crops since 1993. For an accurate investigation of the virulence variability among French A. euteiches populations and between French and foreign populations, a new set of differential pea genotypes was developed. Thirty-three American and European pea lines, displaying different levels of resistance, were screened in a growth chamber against two French isolates. Symptoms (disease severity from 0 to 5, evaluating symptom surface on roots and epicotyl) and percentage of top fresh weight (inoculated/uninoculated top fresh weight ratio) were measured. From this screening 12 relatively resistant lines, from various genetic backgrounds, were identified along with a highly susceptible control. This set of 13 genotypes was inoculated under controlled conditions with 14 isolates from France, Sweden, USA, Canada and New Zealand, to investigate genotype–isolate interactions. Root symptoms were rated (disease severity), and a susceptibility/resistance threshold was established at disease severity = 1. Significant quantitative interactions were observed, and five 'resistance patterns' were identified, leading to a set of six pea genotypes: Baccara (susceptible), Capella, MN313, 902131, 552 and PI180693. Fields trials of this set in 1999 and 2000 gave the same resistance rankings than in growth chamber conditions. This set will allow more accurate assessments of the variability in virulence/aggressiveness of A. euteiches isolates from France and foreign countries, and further investigations of the epidemiological and genetic basis of pea–A. euteiches interactions.     

Genetic control of partial resistance to ‘collar’ and ‘root’ isolates of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phoma macdonaldii</Emphasis> in sunflower

Phoma macdonaldii is one of the most important pathogens of sunflower (Heliantus annuus) in France. In order to determine the inheritance of resistance to the disease, five sunflower genotypes with wide genetic variability for resistance to two ‘collar’ and two ‘root’ Phoma isolates were crossed in a diallel programme. Four separate experiments were undertaken under controlled conditions. In each one, the response of parental genotypes and their F1 hybrids were evaluated with one of the four Phoma isolates. Analysis of variance was performed to determine the effects of genotype on disease severity score when inoculated with ‘collar’ or ‘root’ Phoma isolates and showed significant variability among parents and F1 hybrids for disease severity score. Diallel analysis showed that general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects for resistance to ‘collar’ and ‘root’ Phoma isolates were highly significant for each of the four isolates indicating that both kinds of gene effects were important in controlling the resistance. The GCA/SCA ratios were more than one for three out of four isolates showing that additive genetic effects were more important than non-additive effects for resistance to three of the studied Phoma isolates. Hence, conventional breeding methods could be recommended to achieve genetic improvement to such ‘collar’ and ‘root’ Phoma isolates.     

Characterization of chickpea differentials for pathogenicity assay of ascochyta blight and identification of chickpea accessions resistant to Didymella rabiei

Forty-eight chickpea germplasm lines, including 22 differentials used in previous studies, were characterized for disease phenotypes following inoculation with six isolates of Didymella (anamorph Ascochyta ) rabiei , representing a wide spectrum of pathogenic variation. Representative isolates were also directly compared with six previously identified races on eight chickpea genotypes. Many of the chickpea differentials reacted similarly to inoculation with each isolate of D. rabiei , and several previously identified races caused similar levels of disease on the differentials. This indicates that the number of differentials can be reduced significantly without sacrificing accuracy in describing pathogenic variation of D. rabiei on chickpea. Pathogenic variation among samples of US isolates allowed classification of the isolates into two pathotypes. The distribution of disease phenotypes of the 48 germplasm lines was bimodal after inoculation with pathotype I isolates, whereas the distribution of disease phenotypes was continuous after inoculation with pathotype II isolates. Such distinct distribution patterns suggest that chickpea plants employ different resistance mechanisms to each pathotype and that the two pathotypes may have different genetic mechanisms controlling pathogenicity. The advantages of using the two-pathotype system in assaying pathogenicity of the pathogen and in studying resistance mechanisms of the host are discussed. Three chickpea accessions, PI 559361, PI 559363 and W6 22589, showed a high level of resistance to both pathotypes, and can be employed as resistance sources in chickpea breeding programmes for resistance to ascochyta blight.     

Influence of competition and host plant resistance on selection in Phytophthora infestans populations in Michigan, USA and in Northern Ireland

Competition between genotypes of Phytophthora infestans was studied by inoculating potato cultivars with differing susceptibility to late blight in field experiments over three years in Northern Ireland, UK, and Michigan, USA. Multiple isolates of six genotype groups of P. infestans were chosen from the local populations in both N. Ireland and Michigan for inoculation of separate field trials planted in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Four cultivars were used in each trial; two (susceptible cv. Atlantic and the partially resistant cv. Stirling) were common to both locations, whereas the two additional cultivars (with partial resistance to late blight) were cvs Santé and Milagro in N. Ireland and cvs Pike and Jacqueline Lee in Michigan. Single-lesion isolates of P. infestans were obtained from leaves at 1% level of infection, characterized using pre-assigned markers and re-assigned to their respective genotype groups. Extreme selection occurred within the population of genotypes of P. infestans in N. Ireland in each year, with different genotype groups dominating the infection of different cultivars. Selection was observed on all cultivars tested, but was greatest on the more resistant cultivars. Over the 3 years, all of the 114 isolates obtained from cv. Milagro belonged to a single group, whereas among the 118 isolates from cv. Atlantic all six groups were represented. By contrast, in Michigan, the US-8 genotype dominated infection in all cultivars in each year; only 12 of 374 isolates characterized belonged to other genotypes (11 US-14 and a single US-10 isolate).     

Identification of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) cultivars and lines immune to variants of blackeye cowpea mosaic potyvirus

Fifty-one cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ) cultivars and lines were tested by mechanical inoculation against seven geographically and pathogenically diverse isolates of blackeye cowpea mosaic potyvirus (BICMV), to identify genetic resources with comprehensive BICMV resistance. Five genotypes, IT 80S 2049, Big Boy, Corona, Serido, and Tennessee Cream #8 were immune from all seven isolates, and an additional three genotypes, TVu-2657, TVu-2740, and TVu-3433, were immune from all isolates except PU-7B, an aberrant B1CMV isolate. The diversity among BICMV isolates was illustrated by the range of responses to inoculation among cowpea genotypes, many of which were either immune from or tolerant of individual B1CMV isolates.     

Interactions Between French Isolates of Phomopsis/Diaporthe Helianthi Munt.-Cvet. et al. and Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Genotypes

Three artificial infection tests measuring the rate of mycelial growth of 7 Phomopsis/Diaporthe helianthi isolates were used on leaves, stems and capitula of 6 sunflower hybrids. Isolates and hybrids were chosen to cover the range of variability and resistance levels known at the present time. Significant genotype and isolate effects and isolate×genotype interactions were shown in all the tests, with some changes in order of hybrids according to the isolate used for infection. Consequences of interactions in breeding for stable resistance to P./D. helianthi are discussed.     

Identification of quantitative trait loci for resistance against Verticillium longisporum in oilseed rape (Brassica napus)

Verticillium longisporum is one of the major pathogens of oilseed rape (Brassica napus; genome AACC, 2n = 38) in Europe. Current European cultivars possess only a low level of resistance against V. longisporum, meaning that heavy infection can cause major yield losses. The aim of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance against V. longisporum as a starting point for marker-assisted breeding of resistant cultivars. Resistance QTL were localized in a segregating oilseed rape population of 163 doubled haploid (DH) lines derived by microspore culture from the F1 of a cross between two B. napus breeding lines, one of which exhibited V. longisporum resistance derived by pedigree selection from a resynthesized B. napus genotype. A genetic map was constructed comprising 165 restriction fragment length polymorphism, 94 amplified fragment length polymorphism and 45 simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers covering a total of 1,739 cM on 19 linkage groups. Seedlings of the DH lines and parents were inoculated with V. longisporum isolates in four greenhouse experiments performed in Sweden during autumn 1999. In three of the experiments the DH lines were inoculated with a mixture of five isolates, while in the fourth experiment only one of the isolates was used. The intention was to simulate four different environments with variable disease pressure, while still maintaining uniform conditions in each environment to enable reliable disease scoring. The disease index (DI) was calculated by scoring symptoms on a total of 21 inoculated plants per line in comparison to 21 noninoculated plants per line. Using the composite interval mapping procedure a total of four different chromosome regions could be identified that showed significant QTL for resistance in more than one environment. Two major QTL regions were identified on the C-genome linkage groups N14 and N15, respectively; each of these QTL consistently exhibited significant effects on resistance in multiple environments. The presence of flanking markers for the respective QTL was associated with a significant reduction in DI in the inoculated DH lines.     

Pathogenic diversity within field populations of Orobanche cumana and different reactions on sunflower genotypes

Different races of the parasitic Orobanche cumana (sunflower broomrape) have been reported in Spain, race F being the most virulent. Full resistance in sunflower to races A–E is achieved with each of the single major genes Or₁ to Or₅ respectively. However, parasitised hybrids allegedly resistant to race F were observed in early 2002. The purpose of this study was to verify broomrape incidences (BI) on resistant sunflower genotypes, to assess the mixture of races within field populations and to test for partial resistance to race F in the sunflower hybrids showing a low degree of attack (DA) by the weed. Tests were conducted under field conditions in two locations of southern Spain. While no significant differences were found for yield and BI between locations, the DA on the cultivars depended on the location. With high infection levels and significantly lower yield in susceptible controls, marked differences in BI and DA were found within resistant cultivars, but all of them showed similar crop yield. When artificially inoculated with several populations of race F, line P96 and mainly line L86, were consistently slightly infected, suggesting they were inbred lines responsible for horizontal resistance in infested fields. L86 was extremely susceptible to race E populations, which is unusual as sunflower resistance to one race provided resistance to all the previously described races of O. cumana. No different virulences were detected within two groups of subpopulations (races E and F) inoculated onto resistant sunflower genotypes. However, race F subpopulations showed significant differences in aggressiveness, which seems to be related to horizontal (multigenic) resistance of the crop to the parasitic weed.