A Contrast of Three Inoculation Techniques used to Determine the Race of Unknown Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum Isolates

Summary

Managing Fusarium wilt of watermelon requires knowledge of the pathogen races present. Here, we describe the root-dip, infested kernel seeding, and modified tray-dip inoculation methods to demonstrate their efficacy in race-typing of the pathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp niveum (Fon).

Abstract

Fusarium wilt of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon), has reemerged as a major production constraint in the southeastern USA, especially in Florida. Deployment of integrated pest management strategies, such as race-specific resistant cultivars, requires information on the diversity and population density of the pathogen in growers' fields. Despite some progress in developing molecular diagnostic tools to identify pathogen isolates, race determination often requires bioassay approaches.

Race typing was conducted by root-dip inoculation, infested kernel seeding method, and the modified tray-dip method with each of the four watermelon differentials (Black Diamond, Charleston Grey, Calhoun Grey, Plant Introduction 296341-FR). Isolates are assigned a race designation by calculation of disease incidence five weeks after inoculation. If less than 33% of the plants for a particular cultivar were symptomatic, they were categorized as resistant. Those cultivars with incidence greater than 33% were regarded as susceptible. This paper describes three different methods of inoculation to ascertain race, root-dip, infested kernel, and modified tray-dip inoculation, whose applications vary according to the experimental design.

Introduction

The soilborne fungi that make up the Fusarium oxysporum species complex (FOSC) are impactful hemibiotrophic plant pathogens that can cause serious disease and yield loss in a diverse range of crops¹. Fusarium wilt of watermelon, caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon), has been increasing in scope, incidence, and severity across the world in the last several decades^2,3. In seedlings, the symptoms of Fusarium wilt often resemble damping-off. In older plants, the foliage becomes gray, chlorotic, and necrotic. Eventually, wilting of the plants progres....

Protocol

1. Determining race by root-dip method (RDM)

1. Preparation of the experimental environment
   1. Because symptom expression is highly dependent on environmental conditions, maintain plants in a controlled area. Monitor relative humidity, temperature, photoperiod, and light intensity (Figure 1).
      1. Set the temperature to 26-28 °C, relative humidity to 50-75%, and set a 16 h photoperiod to ensure adequate plant growth and health.
         N.......

Discussion

Three methods of race typing have been presented. Each of these methods is best suited to particular questions and experimental conditions. The infested kernel inoculation method (soil infestation) is perhaps simpler and more straightforward, making it especially useful for the assessment of pathogenicity³⁰. Using this method for simple race-typing is highly effective. However, applying the method to determine the resistance of a specific cultivar could be challenging, given that each plant may no.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
100% Fuller’s Earth	Sigma-Aldrich	F200-5KG
1 L glass Erlenmeyer Flask	PYREX	4980-1L
15 mL falcon tubes	Fisher Scientific	14-959-49B
50 mL graduated cylinder	Lab Safety Supply	41121805
50 mL Eppendorf Conical Tubes	Fisher Scientific	05-413-921
Aluminum foil wrap	Reynolds Wrap	720
Bleach	Walmart	587192290
Bunsen burner	Fisher Scientific	03-391-301
CaCO3	sigma-Aldrich	239216
cell spreaders	Fisher Scientific	08-100-11
Cheesecloth	Lions Services, Inc	8305-01-125-0725
Clear plastic dishes	Visions Wave	999RP6CLSS	~15 cm diameter
Clear vinyl tubing for mushroom bag clamps	Shroom Supply		6" for small bag, 8" for medium bag, 10" for large bag
Cotton Balls	Fisherbrand	22-456-885	Sterile
Ethanol	Fisher Chemical	A4094	100%, then combine with water to make 70% for use
Flourescent Tube Lights	MaxLume	Model T5	2800 K Color Temperature, 24'' or 48'' long
granulated agar	VWR International	90000-786
Hand-held Spray Bottle	Ability One	24122002	~0.95 L
hemacytometer	Fisher Scientific	02-671-55A	Two chamber hemacytometer
Lab trays	Fisher Scientific	15-236-2A
Large, sealable plastic bags	Ziploc	430805	38 cm x 38 cm
Mister / watering can	Bar5F	B10H22
Mushroom Bag Clamp	Shroom Supply		6" for small bag, 8" for medium bag, 10" for large bag
Nitrile Gloves	Fisher Scientific	19-130-1597D
Organic Rye Berries	Shroom Supply		0.5 gallon or 25 lb bags
P1000 pipette and tips	Fisher Scientific	14-388-100
Petri dishes	Fisherbrand	FB0875713	Round, 100 mm diameter, 15 mm height
Planting media	Jolly Gardener	Pro-Line C/B
Plastic Pitcher	BrandTech	UX0600850	1 L or larger
Plastic planting pots	Neo/SCI	01-1177	~15 cm diameter and ~10 cm height
Plastic, autoclave-safe bin	Thermo Scientific	UX0601022	3 L
Quarter-strength potato dextrose agar media	Cole-Parmer	UX1420028	Use powder in combination with recipe for QPDA
Scientific Balance Scale, measuring in g	Ohaus	30208458	Any precise scale that can hold and measure 200g will work
Size #4 cork bore	Cole-Parmer	NC9585352
Small Mushroom grow bag	Shroom Supply		0.5 micron filter, also comes in medium and large sizes
Soil trowel	Walmart	563876946
Styrofoam flats (6 x 12 cells)	Speedling	Model TR72A
Styrofoam flats (8 x 16 cells)	Speedling	Model TR128A
Syringe (5 or 10 mL)	fisher Scientific	14-829-19C
Timer	Walmart	TM-01
V8 Original 100% Vegetable Juice	Walmart	564638212
vortex	Fisher Scientific	02-215-418
Watermelon Seed - Black Diamond	Willhite Seed Inc	17
Watermelon Seed - Calhoun Gray	Holmes Seed Company	4440
Watermelon Seed - Charleston Gray	Bonnie Plants	7.15339E+11
Watermelon Seed - PI 296341-FR	Contact authors	Contact authors
Wheat Kernels (Maxie var.) (optional)	Alachua County Feed & Seed