Response of Eggplant Cultivars to Phytophthora capsici the Causal Agent of Black Stem Disease in Kohgiluyeh va Boyer Ahmad, Iran

Response of nine eggplant cultivars to black stem disease which has been widely distributed in Kohgiluye va Boyer Ahmad province, Iran, was evaluated in greenhouse using a higly aggressive isolate of Phytophthora capsici, isolated from infected eggplants collected in the region. Inoculum of the pathogen was produced on vermiculite + hemp seed extract and added to the soil of pots containing three-week old seedlings of each cultivar. Percentages of root and crown colonization and dead seedlings were measured four weeks after inoculation. Based on the results of experiment, cultivar Sarkhon Hormozgan was moderately resistant, cultivars Juybar Mazandaran and Local Zabol were moderately susceptible, cultivars Saih Neishabour, black Beauty, Borazjan, Siah Mashhad and Ghalami Varamin were susceptible and cultivar Emami 905 was very susceptible.