Expression of field resistance under Western Australian conditions to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Chinese and Australian Brassica napus and Brassica juncea germplasm and its relation with stem diameter

Abstract

Sclerotinia stem rot, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, has become one of the most serious disease problems in oilseed rape-growing areas in Australia. Sources of resistance to this disease have been sought worldwide. In this study, germplasm comprising 42 Brassica napus and 12 Brassica juncea accessions from China and Australia, was screened for resistance to Sclerotinia stem rot under Western Australian field conditions. Resistance was confirmed in some germplasm from China and new sources of resistance were identified in germplasm from Australia. Furthermore, our study found that the severity of stem lesions was related to stem diameter and percentage of the host plants that were dead. It was evident that both stem lesion length and percentage of plant death were at the lowest level when the stem diameter was approximately 10 mm. Smaller or greater stem diameter resulted both in increased stem lesion length and plant death. Stem diameter may be a useful parameter in breeding cultivars of oilseed Brassicas with Sclerotinia resistance.