Comparison of Hydroponic and Substrate-Based Methods for Screening Pea Genotypes for Resistance to Fusarium oxysporum.

Abstract Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is one of the most economically and nutritionally important legumes due to its protein, vitamin, and mineral content. It also represents a source of income for producers. One of the major constraints on pea production is vascular wilt caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum. One strategy for disease management is the use of resistant varieties, which highlights the need for efficient methodologies to evaluate genotype responses to the pathogen. The objective of this study was to compare the efficiency of hydroponic and conventional substrate-based methods for evaluating the responses of pea genotypes to F. oxysporum under semi-controlled conditions. The hydroponic method used a modified Hoagland and Arnon nutrient solution with adjusted nutrient concentrations, whereas the conventional substrate-based method used plastic bags containing one kilogram of peat. The pathogen inoculum was obtained from pea plants affected by the disease in the municipality of Puerres, Nariño, Colombia (isolate FPUE02). In both methods, six pea genotypes and an uninoculated control were evaluated using a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Plant growth parameters, disease incidence, and disease severity were recorded. The hydroponic method showed greater sensitivity in discriminating among susceptible genotypes and facilitated the monitoring of disease progression in the roots. These results highlight the potential of the hydroponic method as a tool for the phytopathological evaluation of pea germplasm.