Resistance Evaluation of Grafted Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) Against Fusarium Wilt and Fusarium Crown and Root Rot

摘要

The tolerance of different Cucurbita spp. rootstocks to Fusarium spp. affecting watermelon crop was evaluated under greenhouse conditions. Grafted plants on TZ148, Ferro, GV 100 and Just rootstocks were inoculated with two isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum and one isolate of F. solani f. sp. cucurbitae. The survey was undertaken at three stage of plant development: vegetative growth, flowering and fructification. Grafted plants revealed to be more resistant to tested Fusarium isolates compared to non-grafted ones. However, it is important to mention that the tolerance of plants depends on the development stages of plants. At young stage of plant development, no significant difference between all tested rootstocks was noted. At later stages (flowering and fructification), the level of resistance depends on isolates and vary between very to moderately resistant. For example, GV 100 and Just remained at high level of resistance. These rootstocks could be used in watermelon grafting to control the disease caused by two Fusarium species affecting watermelon.