Validation of ToLCNDV resistant germplasm in melon and cucumber through challenged inoculation
Keywords:
ToLCNDV, resistant germplasm, cucumber, melon, vulnerability index, artificial screening, challenged inoculationAbstract
The present study was conducted to validate the Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus (ToLCNDV) resistance in four promising accessions of melon and cucumber (IC629818-A, IC629818-B, IC629822, and IC410617) along with checks PI 124111, Pusa Uday and Punjab Naveen through artificial inoculation at glasshouse facility of ICAR-IARI, New Delhi during 2024-25. These lines were identified through field screening against ToLCNDV in the Kharif season at ICAR-NBPGR farm during 2021-2024. The artificially inoculated glasshouse grown plants of Arya IC629818-A and IC629818-B showed no symptoms of ToLCNDV with 0 velnerability index. PCR amplification also confirmed the absence of virus in the plants. This is perhaps the first report wherein any melon germplasm showed immune/highly resistant reaction to ToLCNDV. The cucumber genotype IC410617 had little symptom (VI=4.5) with no amplification of viral coat protein and thus categorized as resistant. These lines show potential for their utilization as novel sources of resistance for breeding of ToLCNDV-resistant cucumber and melon cultivars.
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