BREEDING OF PSIDIUM SPECIES FOR ROOT KNOT NEMATODE RESISTANCE IN MALAYSIA

The root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) was reported to cause severe damage in guava cultivation in Malaysia.
Several long term approaches were taken to find sustainable control for the root knot nematode through breeding.
The approaches include protocol development to screen nematode resistance in Psidium species, genetic resource establishment in the field, screening of accessions against the nematode, identification of resistant rootstock and hybridization of resistant accessions with commercial cultivars.
Protocol developed was used to screen more than twenty accessions against the nematode, and three accessions were found to be potential.
These resistant accessions will be further evaluated for rootstocks.
Hybridization among Psidium species was initiated to study the genetic compatibility among the species.
Thirteen parental combinations were successfully hybridized and more than 2000 F1 interspecific hybrid seeds were sown and will be further evaluated for resistance to root knot nematodes.

I International Guava Symposium

A.R. Milan

guava, Psidium guajava L., root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.735.6