SCREENING FOR RESISTANCE TO FUSARIUM WILT IN INDUCED MUTANTS AND WORLD COLLECTION OF SESAME UNDER INTENSIVE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Resistance levels of 25 sesame genotypes were evaluated for their reaction to Fusarium oxysporium f.sp. sesami. The evaluation was carried out during two successive seasons (2007 and 2008) in two soil conditions of an area known contaminated by a virulent isolate of the pathogen. All healthy and diseased plants for each row was counted and according to a formula reactions of the plants were recorded on a scale from 1 (= 51% highly susceptible). Highly significant differences of susceptibility and resistance to the wilt pathogen were observed among genotypes. The level of infection varied in the genotypes. According to the mean of combined results, "Birkan", Camdibi, WS-143, WS-313 were classified as resistant (R) while WS-131 were categorized as moderately susceptible (MS). These genotypes continued their resistance and susceptibility in both soil types and years, respectively. It was concluded that the genotypes in the resistant category and specifically "Birkan", a recently released cultivar for large seed and high yield, seems to possess also the resistance to the Fusarium wilt disease. This genotype could be used as the sources of resistance to the wilt in the breeding programmes aiming to develop sesame suitable to intensive management.