Background:
In India, watermelon is a major cucurbit and an important crop cultivated in an area of 1.1 lakh hectares with a production of 20.38 lakh tonnes (NHB) (http:/www.nhb.gov.in). The productivity levels are constrained by the occurrence of various diseases. Important among them, is a thrips transmitted Watermelon Bud Necrosis disease caused by a Tospovirus (Family: Bunyaviridae). In the young crop, rapid dieback and wilting of plant happens causing a total yield loss.:
Technology Details:
Since, WBNV is prevalent in major watermelon growing areas in India, there is an immediate need to develop varieties / hybrids possessing resistance to this disease. In this direction, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru has identified a resistant source and developed BIL-53 which is prebreeding line resistant to WBNV derived from a wild species Citrullus lanatus ssp. citroides. This genotype can be used for breeding resistance to WBNV in watermelon minimising linkage drag.