VIEW ARTICLE

Resistance

Resistance to Watermelon Mosaic Virus II Multiplication in Cucumis melo. J. W. Moyer, Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-7616; G. G. Kennedy(2), and Louise R. Romanow(3). (2)(3)Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-7616. Phytopathology 75:201-205. Accepted for publication 19 September 1984. Copyright 1985 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-75-201.

The objective of this study was to compare watermelon mosaic virus II (WMV II) multiplication in susceptible genotypes of Cucumis melo and in plants of breeding line 91213. WMV II multiplication was measured weekly at three leaf positions by using the ELISA and a local lesion assay to monitor the accumulation of viral antigen and infectious virus, respectively. WMV II multiplication in comparable tissues and following comparable incubation was significantly lower in 91213 than in the other genotypes. There was no evidence for the presence of inhibitors in 91213 that would interfere with either assay. The difference in WMV II multiplication in 91213 and two other genotypes was also observed under field conditions. This form of resistance may have significantly reduced spread in these field trials.