Inheritance of Resistance in Melon PI 313970 to Cucurbit Powdery Mildew Incited by Podosphaera xanthii Race S

A new strain of cucurbit powdery mildew incited by Podosphaera xanthii (Castagne) Braun & Shishkoff (formerly Sphaerotheca fuliginea), designated race S, is virulent on all the commonly used melon (Cucumis melo L.) powdery mildew race differentials and first appeared on melon in Yuma, AZ, and Imperial Valley, CA, in 2003. Melon PI 313970 (C. melo var. acidulus) was resistant to P. xanthii race S in 2003 and subsequent years. Inheritance of resistance to P. xanthii race S was studied in two naturally infected, replicated field tests in Imperial Valley in 2005 and 2009 using the parents and F-1, F-2, and reciprocal backcross generations from crosses of PI 313970 with powdery mildew-susceptible 'Top Mark'. Resistance to race S was recessive: all F1 and BCTM individuals were susceptible. One recessive gene, designated pm-S, conditioned resistance to race S in the F-2 and BCPI,. The relationship of pm-S to the previously reported recessive and codominant genes in PI 313970 for resistance to P. xanthii races 1, 2, 2U.S., 3, 3.5, 4.5, and 5 remains to be determined.