Divergent Selection for Resistant Genotypes to Fusarium Wilt from an Old Melon Cultivar and their Performance in Grafting

摘要

This study concerns three successive research projects aiming at a common final outcome: a) the divergent selection in the winter melon old cultivar ‘Thrakiotiko’ (Cucumis melo L., group Inodorus, casaba type) for resistant genotypes to Fusarium wilt, which resulted in the development of two resistant populations to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis: ‘Thrakiotiko-1’ and ‘Thrakiotiko-2’, b) the breeding manipulations of the old cultivar to achieve uniformity and stability in yield and quality in a new cultivar, which was registered in the national and European catalogues of vegetable species as ‘Thrakiotiko’, and c) the performance of the new melon cultivar as scion tested on four rootstocks: ‘Thrakiotiko-1’ and ‘Thrakiotiko-2’, ‘Manta’ (C. melo, group cantalupensis) and ‘TZ-148’ (interspecific Cucurbita spp. hybrid). Using the improved cultivar ‘Thrakiotiko’ and the galia type hybrid ‘Masada’ as scions, on the rootstock ‘Thrakiotiko-1’ significantly increased yield by 36% compared to the ungrafted control, whereas the performance of the same rootstock used for ‘Masada’ was similar to that of the other melon rootstocks and the control. In addition, ‘Thrakiotiko-1’ improved fruit quality in both grafted cultivars. ‘Thrakiotiko-2’ performed similarly to the commercial rootstocks, without differing significantly from the control.