Vol. 12, Issue 7 (2023)

Author(s):
SSA Chauhan, H Choudhary, RK Yadav, YB Basavaraj, RK Ellur and NC Gupta

Abstract:
A study was conducted to understand the effect of watermelon bud necrosis orthotospovirus (WBNV) on plant survival and vine growth in watermelon segregating progenies derived by crossing a watermelon bud necrosis virus resistant prebred line i.e., DWM-45 with Arka Manik which is a commercially popular but WBNV susceptible variety to produce F1, F2, BC1P1 and BC1P2 generations. Here, DWM-45, a resistant prebred line was derived by selection and contentious selfing of citron (Citrullus lanatus var. citroid), a wild species closely associated with cultivated sweet watermelon and reported to possess WBNV resistance. We performed natural epiphytic screening of parental lines i.e., DWM-45 and Arka Manik along with F1, F2, BC1P1 and BC1P2 populations against WBNV infection under field conditions. The results revealed a clear trend: generations with high Percent disease index (PDI) i.e., P2 and BC1P2 exhibited lower plant survival rates and shorter vine length, while those with lower PDI (%) values i.e., P1, F1 and BC1P1 had a greater chance of survival and higher vine growth.