*Department of Vegetable Crops, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004
Department of Botany, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004
National Symposium on Strategic Issues in Plant Pathological Research held at Department of Plant Pathology, CSK HP Krishi Vishvavidayalaya, Palampur on November 24–25, 2011
Watermelon is a common summer crop in World. The commercial cultivation of watermelon is severely affected by viral diseases which lead to severe economic losses. The present investigation was under taken to identify resistant/tolerant genotypes for viral diseases of watermelon. Twenty watermelon genotypes comprising sixteen land races (WM-5, WM-10, WM-14, WM-14*, WM-16, WM-18, WM-19, WM-22, WM-27, WM-30, WM-35, WM-40, WM-42, WM-43, WM-51, WM-52) three exotic genotypes (Thar Manik, Cal sweet, Crimson sweet) and one susceptible check (Sugar Baby) were screened for mosaic viruses under natural and artificial epiphytotic conditions. Susceptible check Sugar Baby and land race WM-52 recorded 100% disease incidence, whereas genotypes WM-5, WM-10, WM-30 and Thar Manik had no disease incidence. In other advanced lines disease incidence ranged between (6.25–75.00) and (14.28–76.92) under natural and artificial epiphytotic conditions, respectively. The serological studies (DAS-ELISA) did not show the association of zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) and watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) with any of the genotype. Association of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was established using serological assay in susceptible check Sugar Baby and other genotypes except WM-5, WM-10, WM-30 and Thar Manik. Thus these four resistant lines i.e. WM-5, WM-10, WM-30 and Thar Manik can be further utilized in the breeding programme to develop hybrids/varieties of watermelon resistant to cucumber mosaic virus.
