Variation in the response of melon genotypes to sudden wilt

Differences in the response of melon genotypes to the sudden wilt disease were observed in several field trials conducted during 1993-1994 in the Arava region of southern Israel. Generally, the disease was more severe in the late summer growing season which is shorter and has higher temperatures than the spring and autumn growing seasons. The Oriental pickling melon breeding line P6a was the most tolerant among the entries tested. The response to the disease was also studied using two segregating families and their progenitors. BSK (tolerant) x P202 (susceptible) and P6a (tolerant) x D17 (susceptible). Wilting percentages of F sub(1), F sub(2) and backcross families were intermediate between the parents, suggesting an additive mode of gene action.