Partial resistance to a Fusarium root disease in Egyptian white lupin landraces

A Fusarium sp. root pathogen of lupin is the causal agent of the most impor tant disease that affects the cultivation of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) in Egypt. The aim of our research was to investigate whether host resistan ce to Fusarium root disease was available in Egyptian landraces of Lupinus albus. Five Fusarium isolates collected from white lupin samples in Egypt w ere tested with an Egyptian landrace and a French cultivar. The most aggres sive isolate was used to screen an additional 15 Egyptian landraces, two cu ltivars released in Egypt after selection among landraces, one Polish culti var, and two French cultivars. The assessment of host response to Fusarium was performed in a field, and under controlled conditions in a greenhouse p ot experiment. Most landraces and the two Egyptian cultivars showed better resistance with good accordance between field and pot experiment. This expe riment showed that Egyptian genetic resources of white lupin possess partia l resistance to Fusarium root rot. Egyptian germplasm may be an alternative genetic source for incorporating partial resistance to Fusarium root rot i nto the breeding pools.