3.1 │ Disease response
P. melonis -inoculated plants of all tested genotypes revealed a
wide range of symptoms depending on their genetic makeup and none of the
inoculated plant was symptomless. The genotypes responded as resistant
showed minor symptoms, moderately resistant ones indicated moderate,
while highly susceptible genotypes revealed severe symptoms as earlier
reported by hashemi et al. (2019). The defense response in the resistant
genotypes were able to stop pathogen growth and infection, whereas in
the susceptible genotypes, necrosis continued to progress along the
roots and stem until the plant dies (Fig 1).