Production of cotton varieties with resistance to Fusarium wilt with special reference to Tanzania

Abstract

Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (Atk.) Sny. & Hans. is an important disease of cotton in several developing countries where the use of resistant varieties continues to be the most practical method of control. The inheritance of resistance to wilt is complex, involving several major and minor genes. In order to identify resistant genotypes in segregating populations large numbers of plants must be screened using inoculation methods which minimise disease escape. Wilt incidence is increased when plants are attacked by the rootknot nematode (Meloidogyne acrita Chitwood, 1949) Esser et al. 1976. In areas where both organisms occur together, the wilt resistance‐potential of a variety cannot be realised unless it also has resistance to root‐knot. Problems of breeding for wilt resistance are discussed with reference to Tanzania, and methods are described for their application to a wilt‐resistance programme.