Evaluation of Eggplant Accessions and Cultivars for Resistance to Verticillium Wilt. Muriel J. O’Brien, Research Plant Pathologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705. Plant Dis. 67:763-764. Accepted for publication 3 December 1982. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 1983. DOI: 10.1094/PD-67-763.

Four hundred seventy-three USDA plant introduction accessions and 10 cultivars of eggplant (Solanum melongena) were evaluated for resistance to Verticillium dahliae. After inoculation with 1 million spores per milliliter, the seedling plants were rated on a 10-point disease-intensity scale (1=dead, 10=no infection). Thirty-six plant introductions with ratings of 5 or higher were selected as potentially wilt-resistant or wilt-tolerant. The cultivars Florida Market, Harris 468 Special Hibush, and Harris Hybrid 77631 had the highest ratings.