Evaluation of resistance to Fusarium wilt disease in sesame germplasm

Abstract

Twenty-five sesame genotypes (Sesamum indicum L.) were collected from different growing localities. Their reaction towards infection with the wilt pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. sesami (Zaprometoff) Castellani, was significantly different. Plants were rated according to a scale from 0 = no visible infection (immune) up to 5= > 75% infected plants (highly susceptible). During the first season (1994), three genotypes (Nos 3, 13 and 19) were ranked highly resistant plants (no infection). Other genotypes ranged between resistant (0.1- 20% infection) to susceptible (50.1- 75% infection). No highly susceptible plant (75.1- 100% infection) was observed among the 25 genotypes examined. In the second season (1995), only two of the three highly resistant cultivars (Nos 13 and 19) retained their character, while the third genotype (No. 3) was ranked resistant. Some genotypes showed different reactions compared with the first year. ANOVA for the combined data of the both years revealed thatsome genotypes could be considered as promising parents for breeding programmes (genotype Nos 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 13, 14 and 19). Keywords: SesameFusarium WiltWilt ResistanceEgypt