Resistance of melon genotypes to Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum

Authors

  • Edicleide Macedo da Silva Department of Agronomic And Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3196-6516
  • João Pedro Peixoto Fernandes Plant Protection Department, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9536-8195
  • Nynyve Thaynar Brito de Almeida Department of Agronomic And Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8929-2219
  • Lucas Matias Gomes-Messias Plant Protection Department, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7121-9275
  • Bruna Fukumoto Kobayashi Plant Protection Department, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4402-4883
  • Adriano Ferreira Martins Department of Agronomic And Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0481-4066
  • Rita de Cássia Panizzi Plant Protection Department, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0289-6563
  • Glauber Henrique de Sousa Nunes Department of Agronomic And Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7189-2283

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252025v3812735rc

Keywords:

Cucumis melo. Gummy stem blight. Disease resistance. Genotype selection. Didymella bryoniae.

Abstract

Gummy stem blight, caused by the fungal pathogen Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum (syn. Didymella bryoniae), is a severe disease that results in significant yield losses in melon crops globally. The objective of this study was to evaluate and confirm resistance of melon genotypes to S. cucurbitacearum. Two experiments were conducted in a controlled environment using a randomized block design with four replications and eight plants per plot. Disease symptoms were assessed using a severity scale ranging from 0 (no visible symptoms) to 4 (stem necrosis with complete wilting and plant death) to determine disease reaction classes. Inoculation in both experiments utilized the toothpick method, in which a toothpick bearing a 5 mm diameter fungal colony disc was inserted directly into the plant stem (1 cm below the leaves). Twelve genotypes were evaluated in Experiment I and fourteen in Experiment II. In both experiments, genotypes exhibited genetic variability in their response to gummy stem blight symptoms, resulting in distinct disease reaction classes to S. cucurbitacearum. The genotypes PI482398, PI140471, PI157082, and PI420145 demonstrated stability in genetic resistance to S. cucurbitacearum, classified as highly resistant in both experiments, confirming prior findings. These genotypes are recommended for advancement in melon breeding programs as valuable sources of resistance.

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Published

25-09-2025

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Scientific Article