Evaluation of Selected Turkish Edible Pumpkin Seeds Accessions for Resistance to Zucchini yellow mosaic virus

Edible pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita pepo L.) is a major crop in all geographical regions of Turkey. Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) affects all agricultural species of the Cucurbitaceae and is of great economic importance because of its destructive nature. Edible pumpkin seeds has long been screened extensively for resistance to ZYMV. Although there are reported resistance sources for ZYMV, it is aimed to identify additional sources of resistance, since the initial sources of resistance are not resistant to some of the severe strains of the virus. In this study genotypes collected from Eskişehir, Konya, Nevşehir, Tekirdağ, Sakarya, Kayseri and Kırşehir in 2005 were used. Between 2006 and 2010 the selfingand selections of these genotypes were done and S5 generations were produced. A total of 108 edible pumpkin seeds accessions, exhibiting the traits of easily crackable, attractive and high productive, were tested against ZYMV resistance. Among the tested samples none of the edible pumpkin seeds accessions were found immune, resistant, or tolerant against ZYMV infection. Tested accessions were all exhibited heavy viral symptoms against severe Turkish ZYMV isolate. The disease severity was ranged between 60 to 100 in all tested accessions.