Fusarium Melon

Plant pathogens are known to cause massive damage to important crops, resulting in significant agricultural losses with widespread consequences for both food supply and industries that rely on plant materials. An example of such pathogens is the plant pathogen Fusarium oxysporum.

F. oxysporum is known to devastate various crop plants including, but not limited to, pea, banana, cotton and tomato. F. oxysporum is characterized by several different specialized forms, which are referred to as formae specialis (f.sp.), each of which infect a variety of hosts to cause disease. There are at least 48 different formae speciales of F. oxysporum.

One particular formae specialis is F. oxysporum f.sp. melonis. This fungus infects various melons of the species Cucumis melo , which include European cantaloupes and muskmelons such as American cantaloupes, sugar melons, honeydews, and Casaba. Several races have been identified. These include races 0, 1, 2, and 1.2. Additionally, two genes, Fom-1 and Fom-2, have been identified that are associated with resistance to races 0 and 2, and 0 and 1, respectively (Risser et al , 1976).

New Cucumis melo plants that are resistant to FOM race 1.2, are described as well as new methods for introducing increased resistance to FOM race 1.2 in melons.

The quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with resistance to FOM race 1.2 and the isolated genetic markers associated with FOM race 1.2 resistance are described. Introgression of the Fom: 1.2 resistance locus confers melon plants resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp melonis race 1.2.

Varieties

Syngenta commercial varieties that contain the Fom1.2 resistance: Godiva, Pendragon, Ectorius, Galatin, Caradoc , Lancelot, Demetra, Uther

Patent

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