Perilla_(Perilla frutescens L.) has been used as an important traditional herbal medicine and functional food for a long time in Asia. Sclerotinia rot (caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) and Phytophthora blight (caused by Phytophthora nicotianae) which were first seen in 2006, have been serious diseases causing damage in perilla cultivation in Korea. The use of resistant cultivars is considered the most cost-effective and technically feasible control method. The exploration of genetic resources with disease-resistance is very important to breed resistant cultivars. This study was conducted to establish a simple and rapid disease inoculation method for screening of Sclerotinia rot & Phytophthora blight in Perilla germplasm.
The effectiveness of three different inoculation methods, detached leaf (agar plug placed on start point of vein, 1/3 point of leaf vein & front side, back side), stem tip and soil drenching with three-growth stages (two, four & six-leaf stage) at two different temperatures (20 & 25 °C) were assayed using two accessions of perilla germplasm. Based on disease lesion, 20 °C in two-leaf stage with detached leaf method (start point of vein) was found to be an efficient method for screening of Sclerotinia rot, whereas 25 °C in two-leaf stage with stem tip and detached leaf method were effective method for screening of Phytophthora blight in perilla germplasm.
For screening of Sclerotinia rot and Phytophthora blight, the detached leaf method of agar plug placed on start point of vein and back side, respectively, at two- leaf stage is a preferable inoculation method in perilla germplasm.
