Articles
IMPROVING DISEASE RESISTANCE IN CALADIUM: PROGRESS AND PROSPECTS
Article number
886_7
Pages
69 – 76
Language
English
Abstract
One of the priority objectives in our caladium breeding program has been to develop new cultivars resistant to important fungal or bacterial diseases.
Disease-resistant cultivars can serve as valuable tools for disease control and help increase crop yield and quality and reduce economic losses.
Resistant cultivars can also help reduce pesticide usage and protect the environment.
For the last several years, we have focused our research and breeding efforts on resistance to Fusarium tuber rot, Pythium root rot, and bacterial blight (Xanthomonas leaf spot). Five commercial cultivars were found resistant to Fusarium tuber rot, seven commercial cultivars showed moderate levels of resistance to Pythium root rot, and five commercial cultivars were resistant to bacterial blight.
Using these sources of resistance as breeding parents, thousands of progeny have been generated.
These progeny have been screened through a multi-stage process for horticultural characteristics and disease resistance.
More than 100 elite resistant lines have been obtained and a number of new cultivars have been released.
Results indicate good potential to develop new cultivars resistant to all three major diseases in caladium production.
Disease-resistant cultivars can serve as valuable tools for disease control and help increase crop yield and quality and reduce economic losses.
Resistant cultivars can also help reduce pesticide usage and protect the environment.
For the last several years, we have focused our research and breeding efforts on resistance to Fusarium tuber rot, Pythium root rot, and bacterial blight (Xanthomonas leaf spot). Five commercial cultivars were found resistant to Fusarium tuber rot, seven commercial cultivars showed moderate levels of resistance to Pythium root rot, and five commercial cultivars were resistant to bacterial blight.
Using these sources of resistance as breeding parents, thousands of progeny have been generated.
These progeny have been screened through a multi-stage process for horticultural characteristics and disease resistance.
More than 100 elite resistant lines have been obtained and a number of new cultivars have been released.
Results indicate good potential to develop new cultivars resistant to all three major diseases in caladium production.
Authors
Z. Deng, N.A. Peres, B.K. Harbaugh
Keywords
Caladium×hortulanum, Caladium bicolor, Fusarium solani, Pythium myriotylum, Xanthomonas axonopodis, resistance breeding
Online Articles (60)