Resistance Response Of Ten Ridged Gourd (Luffa Acutangula (L.) Roxb.) Cultivars Against Squash Mosaic Comovirus Infection

Abstract

Squash mosaic comovirus (SqMV) is one of the important viruses infecting cucurbits including ridged gourd. The data related resistance response to SqMV of this plant species is not available yet. Thus, the aim of this research was to evaluate the resistance response of commercial ridged gourd cultivars against SqMV infection. Ten commercial cultivars were tested by inoculating SqMV mechanically. Incubation time, type of symptom, disease incidence, severity and virus titre were recorded as well as agronomic characters. The earliest symptom appearance was present on Essenza cultivar and the latest one on Anggun F1 cultivar with incubation time ranged from 3.1 to 4.4 days post-inoculation. The infected plants showed mild to severe mosaic symptom depend on cultivars with severity score ranged from 2.20 to 3.57 and disease incidence up to 100%. Essenza cultivars had the highest viral titre and Anggun F1 had the lowest one. The infected plants showed reduction of plant growth, number of flowers, fresh and dry weight compared with healthy plants. Based on thosevariables, Hebata, Estilo, Azura F1 and Essenza cultivars are classified as very susceptible, while Jaka F1, Mahkota, Bidara, and Grandia F1 cultivars are susceptible, and Anggun F1, and Prima F1 cultivar are tolerant against SqMV infection.