Identification and race characterization of melon powdery mildew pathogen in Bukidnon, Philippines
Maristil Pinote: East-West Seed Company
<div>Powdery mildew is one of the most important diseases affecting melon worldwide. The disease is caused by two genera of obligate fungi: <i>Podosphaera, </i>which is common in subtropical and tropical areas in greenhouse crops and <i>Golovinomyces,</i> which occurs more frequently in temperate and cooler areas under field conditions. Both species are highly variable, as indicated by the existence of two races of <i>Golovinomyces </i>and 31 races of <i>Podosphaeria </i>In the Philippines, only <i>Erysiphe cichoracearum </i>syn<i> Golovinomyces cichoracearum</i> has been reported as the causal pathogen of melon powdery mildew. To establish the correct identity of the melon powdery mildew, identification and race characterization study using 19 melon cultivars was conducted. Based on the presence of the fibrosin bodies, shape, dimensions and length to width ratio of the conidia, melon powdery mildew was identified as <i>Oidium </i>sp., the anamorph of <i>Podosphaera. </i>Race characterization study revealed the presence of race N1 in greenhouse cultivated melon. Furthermore, no race shift of melon powdery mildew has been observed from 2013 to 2014 in East-West Seed Company research farm in Bukidnon, Philippines. The information generated from this study will be useful in breeding for powdery mildew resistance in melon.</div>
|
