Screening for resistance to Phytophthora

Abstract

Identifying and evaluating disease resistance depends on rapid, reliable and robust bioassays that can rapidly screen large numbers of genotypes and breeding progenies. We developed seedling, leaf and stem bioassays to screen durian germplasm from Thailand, Vietnam and Australia for resistance to Phytophthora palmivora. Detached leaf assays segregated durian cultivars into classes consistent with field observations, and are recommended as an early screen in breeding programs. Durian cultivar Chanee emerged as the least susceptible cultivar in Thai and Vietnamese tests.