Disease reaction among selected cucurbitaceae to an Acremonium cucurbitacearum isolate from Texas

Thirty-seven species within Cucurbitaceae representing the genera Citrullus , Cucumis, Cucurbita, Lagenaria, and Luffa were evaluated for disease react ion to an Acremonium cucurbitacearum A. Alfaro-Garcia, W. Gams, and Garcia- Jimenez, isolate (TX 941022) from the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Aft er 28 days in the greenhouse, seedling disease ratings were made on the hyp ocotyl, stem-rootjunction, primary root, and secondary roots. An additional disease measure was derived by averaging the four root disease ratings to establish a disease severity index (DSI). Vine and root dry weight were poo r measures of plant damage caused by A. cucurbitacearum, According to the D SI, all species within Cucurbita, Lagenaria, Luffa, and three Cucumis sativ us L. cultigens were rated as highly resistant to A. cucurbitacearum, Cucum is melo L. and Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai cultigens were th e only cucurbits receiving DSI ratings of moderately resistant to susceptib le.