RESPONSE OF GERBERA VARIETIES AGAINST POWDERY MILDEW DISEASE UNDER POLY HOUSE CONDITION

Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the resistance of the Gerbera jamesonii cultivars Figaro, Galileo, Manizales, Marinila, Palmira, Pia, Rionegro, Tecala and Teresa against powdery mildew caused by Golovinomyces cichoracearum var. cichoracearum and Podosphaera fusca. Observations on symptoms of powdery mildew were recorded at 40-day intervals up to 5 months (approximately 160 days) after planting. Results showed that Palmira was resistant to the disease, followed by Figaro and Marinila, while Teresa was moderately resistant. The cultivars Pia and Tecala were highly susceptible to the disease during the whole experiment.