Genetics of resistance in lettuce to races 1 and 2 of Verticillium dahliae from different host species

Race 1 resistance against Verticillium dahliae in lettuce was originally shown in the cultivar La Brillante to be conditioned by a single dominant gene (Verticillium resistance 1, Vr1). Multiple, morphologically diverse sources of germplasm have been identified as resistant to race 1. In this study, allelism tests indicated that resistance in these different lettuce cultivars is closely linked or allelic to the Vr1 gene. The Vr1 gene is defeated by race 2 isolates of V. dahliae. Only partial resistance to race 2 isolates is available in a few plant introductions (PIs). Greenhouse and field experiments conducted with these PIs demonstrated partial resistance to V. dahliae race 1 as well as race 2 isolates from lettuce. Cultivars resistant to race 1 and PIs with partial resistance to race 2 were challenged with several race 1 and 2 isolates originating from hosts other than lettuce. This indicated that cultivars resistant to race 1 and the breeding lines derived from them would also be resistant to race 1 isolates from other hosts; similarly, the partial resistance would be effective against race 1 and 2 isolates from hosts other than lettuce. Nevertheless, there were specific interactions that warrant further study. Although race 1 currently predominates in the major lettuce production area of the Salinas Valley, CA, breeding lettuce for resistance to V. dahliae should take both races into account.