FUSARIUM RESISTANCE IN GLADIOLUS - SELECTION IN SEEDLING POPULATIONS

A test to select Fusarium resistant seedlings of Gladiolus is describe d. Seedlings of 37 populations, obtained from an incomplete diallel be tween eight parents with different levels of Fusarium resistance, were used. Significant differences in Fusarium infection between and withi n populations were detected. Most of the descendants selected had a re sistant G. dalenii genotype as one of the parents. The resistance leve l of the parents was associated with the general combining ability for Fusarium resistance based on the seedling test. Implications for resi stance breeding are discussed.