EVALUATION OF US HONEYDEW-TYPE MELONS FOR RESISTANCE AGAINST DOWNY MILDEW AND ALTERNARIA LEAF-BLIGHT

Seventeen U.S. honeydew-type cultivars of melon (Cucumis melo L.) and three control cultigens were evaluated in replicated, artificial inocu lations under controlled conditions for resistance against downy milde w and Alternaria leaf blight. All cultivars tested were susceptible to downy mildew. However, all of the tested cultivars were significantly more resistant to Alternaria leaf blight than the susceptible control . Twelve of these cultivars were not significantly more susceptible to Alternaria leaf blight than the two resistant controls. These cultiva rs may provide useful sources of Alternaria leaf blight resistance for incorporation into other commercial melon types.