Genetic basis of powdery mildew resistance in muskmelon

Abstract

A study was undertaken to investigate the inheritance of powdery mildew resistance in muskmelon grown on river beds, under natural epiphytotic conditions. 'Campo' and 'PMR 6' were selected as resistant parents, 'Gulfstream' as moderately resistant and 'Lucknow Safeda Selection' as susceptible parents. The genotypes of the two resistant parents have locus/loci which are similar in conferring resistance. The moderately resistant parent might have an allele at least in one locus different from that in the resistant parent. Two effective factors were found to be differentiating disease reaction between the susceptible and the resistant parents. The direction of the genetic effects showed that it is possible to get from the cross between the susceptible and resistant parents, segregants with the desired level of resistance.