COMPARISON OF RESISTANCE TO FUSARIUM SPP, OF GLASSHOUSE-GROWN AND FIELD-GROWN TUBER PROGENIES OF POTATO

Field-grown tubers of 22 progenies of Solanum tuberosum L. generated i n a crossing programme involving seven parents differing in resistance to Fusarium coeruleum Lib. ex Sacc. and F, sulphureum Schlect. (= F. sambucinum Fuckel, teleomorph Gibberella pulicaris (Fr.) Sacc.) were w ound-inoculated with a cornmeal; sand culture of each pathogen. Parent al genotypes were also included. The mean lesion size of each progeny was compared in 2 years of tests, as well as with published data on gl asshouse-grown tubers. For F. coeruleum there was a high correlation b etween years as well as with the glasshouse data, but no such correlat ions were apparent with G. pulicaris. Furthermore, parental and GCA va lues, as well as progeny means and mid-parent scores, also correlated highly for F. coeruleum but not for G. pulicaris. Glasshouse-grown tub ers of 11 wild Solanum spp. were also inoculated with both pathogens. Some resistance to one or other, or both, was apparent, particularly i n S. chacoense.