Avaliação de genótipos de melancia quanto à resistência à mancha aquosa

Abstract

Bacterial fruit blotch caused by Acidovorax citrulli occurs in different parts of watermelon plant, at different stages of development but symptoms are more conspicuous and easy to diagnose in fruit. BFB has caused significant economic losses to melon production in Brazil and is a major threat to the watermelon fields. This justifies the research for resistance sources to be used in breeding programs aiming to obtain varieties resistant to BFB, since they do not yet exist. To select genotypes with potential use in the management of fruit blotch, the resistance level of watermelon genotypes belonging to the Cucurbits Germplasm Active Bank for the Brazilian Northeast (Banco Ativo de Germoplasma de Cucurbitáceas para o Nordeste Brasileiro - BAG) of Embrapa Semiárido was evaluated at different plant developmental stages: seeds (74 genotypes), seedlings and plants before flowering (29 genotypes) as well as plants during flowering and fruiting (7 genotypes). The genotypes were evaluated for the incidence or severity of the disease, which was estimated with the aid of descriptive scales. Additionally, A. citrulli transmission was determined in seeds derived from symptomatic and asymptomatic fruits. No watermelon genotype was immune to fruit blotch, and the majority showed variations in resistance responses. However, the genotypes BGCIA 979, BGCIA 34 and Sugar Baby showed high levels of resistance at most stages of plant development, thereby suggesting that these genotypes possess fruit blotch resistance genes that could be used in breeding programs. Seeds from symptomatic and asymptomatic fruits of the seven tested genotypes showed transmission rates of A. citrulli up to 35.3% and 8.7%, respectively. These results confirm that asymptomatic fruits can harbor contaminated seeds that are responsible for the transmission of the bacteria.