Inheritance and genetic linkage of fusarium wilt {Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cucumerinum race 1) and scab {Cladosporium cucumerinum) resistance genes in cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

The inheritance of resistance of the cucumber cv. SMR 18 to the race 1 of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cucumerinum, the linkage relationship between resistance to race 1 of F. oxysporum f.sp. cucumerinum, resistance to Cladosporium cucumerinum and fruit spine colour, and the reactions of several cucumber cultivars to inoculations with race 1 of F. oxysporum f.sp. cucumerinum and C. cucumerinum were examined. The inbred line Straight 8 (P,), which has white fruit spines and is susceptible to both fusarium wilt and scab was crossed with the inbred line SMR 18 (P₂), which has black fruit spines and resistance to both diseases. When F, F₂, F₃, BC₁P₁ BC₁P₂ and BC₁P₁ selfed progenies were inoculated at the cotyledon stage with a suspension of spores of race 1 of F. oxysporum f.sp. cucumerinum, the ratios of resistant to susceptible plants indicated that resistance was conferred by a single dominant gene, designated Fcu-1. When 171 BC^! plants were selfed and from each resulting F₂ family different groups of 15–25 seedlings each were tested for resistance to either disease, segregation data indicated that the Fcu-1 locus and the Ccu locus for C. cucumerinum resistance were completely linked. No evidence for linkage was found between the Fcu-1 (Ccu) locus and the B locus for fruit spine colour. Among the 59 cultivars tested at the seedling stage, 15 were susceptible, while the remainder were highly resistant to inoculations with both pathogens.