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Resistance statement

Definition of the Terms Describing the Reaction of Plants to Pests[1] and Abiotic Stresses for the Vegetable Seed Industry  (Adopted by the ISF Vegetable and Ornamental Crops Section in June 2017)

1.   Introduction

The relationship between a plant and a pest is very complex. The terms that describe the reaction of a plant variety to a pest are determined by tests under controlled environmental conditions with known and characterized biotypes, pathotypes, races or strains of the pest in question.

In practice however, the ability of a pest to cause disease in a plant depends on environmental conditions, the properties of the organism itself and the capacity of the plant to defend itself. Varieties within a plant species can differ in their ability to defend themselves. Under different conditions, such as age of the plant, pest pressure and virulence or adverse environmental conditions, the interaction between the same plant and pest may have different outcomes. Pests are known to develop and form new biotypes, pathotypes, races or strains that can cause damage to plants that remain unaffected by the original form of the pest. To promote consistency in the terms used to describe the reaction of a plant to a pest, ISF Vegetable and Ornamental Crops Section has defined the following terms.

2.   Definitions

Susceptibility is the inability of a plant variety to restrict the growth and development of a specified pest.

Resistance is the ability of a plant variety to restrict the growth and development of a specified pest and/or the damage they cause when compared to susceptible plant varieties under similar environmental conditions and pest pressure. Resistant varieties may exhibit some disease symptoms or damage under heavy pest pressure.

Two levels of resistance are defined.

High resistance (HR*): plant varieties that highly restrict the growth and development of the specified pest under normal pest pressure when compared to susceptible varieties. These plant varieties may, however, exhibit some symptoms or damage under heavy pest pressure.

Intermediate resistance (IR*): plant varieties that restrict the growth and development of the specified pest but may exhibit a greater range of symptoms or damage compared to high resistant varieties. Intermediately resistant plant varieties will still show less severe symptoms or damage than susceptible plant varieties when grown under similar environmental conditions and/or pest pressure.

It is to be noted that if a resistance is claimed in a plant variety it is limited to the specified biotypes, pathotypes, races or strains of the pest.

If no biotypes, pathotypes, races or strains are specified in the resistance claim for the variety, it is because no generally accepted classification of the cited pest by biotype, pathotype, race or strain exists. New biotypes, pathotypes, races or strains that may emerge are not covered by the original resistance claim.

Immunity is when a plant is not subject to attack or infection by a specified pest.

 [1]    FAO defines a pest as: Any species, strain or biotype of plant, animal or pathogenic agent injurious to plants or plant products. Pathogens (microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi that cause a disease) are, therefore, included in the term “pest”.

2. Resistance codes

A recent overview of international resistance codes in vegetable crops can be found on the International Seed Federation (ISF) website: Pest Codes – International Seed Federation (worldseed.org)

Safe use of treated seeds

View the page for information on safe use of treated seeds.

Storage conditions

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