Host status of passion fruit genotypes to scab and bacterial blight

Abstract

Screening passion fruit genotypes to target resistance to scab and bacterial blight may play an important role in reducing the application of chemical products and losses caused by the diseases. It is likely that resistant genotypes may be found in ongoing breeding programs targeting production traits. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the host status of eighteen passion fruit genotypes from the Breeding Program of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (CRP 01-12 to CRP 16-12, CRP 19-12 and CRP 20-12) and two cultivars (FB 200 Yellow Master and FB 300 Araguari) of yellow passion fruit to the scab (Cladosporium herbarum) and bacterial blight (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. passiflorae). The fungus and the bacterium were artificially inoculated on wounded leaves at the concentrations of 1 x 10⁶ spores mL^-1 and 1 x 10⁸ cfu mL^-1. Scab incidence and severity were assessed at 7, 14, 21 and 31 days after inoculation (DAI); whereas the bacterial blight evaluations were performed at 10, 20, 28 and 44 DAI. The genotypes CRP 01-12 to CRP 16-12 and CRP 19-12 are moderately resistant to scab. The genotype 20-12 and the FB 200 Yellow Master cultivar are susceptible to the fungus. All genotypes are highly susceptible to bacterial blight.