A Comparison of Screening Techniques for Resistance to Verticillium Wilt in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Three screening tests for resistance to Verticillium wilt in alfalfa using stem cuttings were compared including: stem infusion with a fungal culture filtrate (SIF), leaf injection with a spore inoculum (LII) and stem infusion with a spore inoculum (SII). The disease severity indice (DSI) determined by the three tests were very similar on average and were significantly correlated for a population of 142 plants regenerated from tissue culture. The DSIs determined by the LII test were also significantly correlated with the DSIs determined by the North American Standard test in a population of 20 Vertus (c.v.) plants. The results suggest that the assays using stem cuttings are effective for determining resistance to Verticillium wilt in alfalfa. Because they are nondestructive and quicker than the North American Standard test, these methods should find application in alfalfa breeding.