Vegetative Compatibility Groups and Pathogenicity Variation among Isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis

A total of 90 isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis, the causal agent of oriental melon (Cucumis melo var. makuwa) wilt, was isolated from symptomatic tissues of oriental melon from 4 provinces in Korea. These isolates were grouped into vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) by demonstrating heterokaryosis through complementation using nitrate nonutilizing (nit) mutants. No self-incompatibility was observed in any of isolates. All isolates were grouped into 3 VCGs ; A, B, and C. iSOLATES BELONGING TO VCG A and VCG B accounted for 87% and 91% of the fungal population collected in 1991 and 1993, respectively. As the increment of cultivation period in the same field, the proportion of isolates belonging to VCG B increased whereas that of isolates belonging to VCG A decreased. Mean virulence of a total population increased as the increment of cultivation period in the same field. Isolates belonging to VCG B showed the highest increment of virulence. These data suggest that replanting of a host plant in the same field may cause increase of virulence in the pathogens. Furthermore, virulence of F. oxysporum f.sp. melonis isolates is related to the VCGs.