Genetic analysis of yellow mosaic disease resistance in loofah

Yellow mosaic disease caused by tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus is very severe and causing 100 per cent yield loss under epiphytotic conditions. Chemical control of this disease is neither economical nor eco-friendly and genetic resistance is an efficient means for its management. Resistance to yellow mosaic disease in advanced inbred line IIHR-Sel-1 and IIHR-137 have been confirmed during screening experiment. A crossing programme was planned using Arka Prasan as susceptible and IIHR-Sel-1 and IIHR-137 as resistant parents. We used the F 1 , F 2 , BC 1 and BC 2 generations derived from the two crosses viz . Arka Prasan × IIHR-Sel-1 and Arka Prasan × IIHR 137 to study the inheritance of resistance to yellow mosaic disease. Results indicated monogenic recessive resistance to yellow mosaic disease in the genetic background of both parents which need to be confirmed through repeated experiments with large population size. These results are imperative for breeding yellow mosaic disease resistant cultivars in Luffa species.