ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE RESISTANCE IN CUCUMIS SPECIES

The southern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita [(Kofoid & Whit e) Chitwood], causes serious economic losses to melon (Cucumis melo L. ) production in the United States, The present study was conducted to determine if separable differences in nematode resistance of Cucumis m elo could be found at some inoculum level, Five C. melo lines were com pared with Cucumis metuliferus Naud. (C701A), a highly resistant speci es, for root necrosis, galling, egg mass production, and reproduction when inoculated at 0, 500, 1000, 2000, or 5000 nematode eggs per plant , Using these criteria, melon line C880 inoculated with 1000 eggs per plant was highly susceptible, while PI140471, PI 183311, and the culti vars Chilton, Georgia 47, Gulf Coast, Planters Jumbo, and Southland we re less susceptible, In greenhouse tests with an inoculum level of 100 0 eggs per plant, low levels of resistance were evident, A thorough sc reening of the available germplasm against M. incognita may identify h igher levels of root-knot nematode resistance for incorporation into i mproved melon cultivars.