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Inheritance of Resistance to Fusarium Wilt in Alfalfa 1
Author(s) -
Hijano E. H.,
Barnes D. K.,
Frosheiser F. I.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1983.0011183x002300010010x
Subject(s) - biology , germplasm , fusarium wilt , diallel cross , fusarium oxysporum , inoculation , agronomy , horticulture , plant disease resistance , resistance (ecology) , hybrid , gene , genetics
Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. medicaginis is an important disease of alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) which has not been studied genetically. In our study the inheritance of resistance was determined for two unrelated alfalfa germplasm sources. Alfalfa clones, ranging from resistant to very susceptible, were selected from both winterhardy and nonhardy germplasm sources. One set of six parents from each germplasm source was crossed in a complete diallel design with reciprocals. In addition, each parent was selfed and testcrossed onto a susceptible clone. Selected crosses also were made between parents from different germplasm sources. Progenies from all generations were grown simultaneously in the greenhouse for 10 weeks, then inoculated and transplanted into the field. Plants were rated for disease severity three months after transplanting. Qualitative genetic analyses indicated that resistance in both the winterhardy and the nonhardy germplasms was controlled by two genes, a dominant gene (FW 1 ) and an incompletely dominant gene (FW 2 ). Phenotypic recurrent selection should increase Fusarium wilt resistance in most alfalfa populations.