Variability in parsley (Petroselinum crispum [Mill.] Nyman) for reaction to Septoria petroselini Desm., Plasmopara petroselini Sǎvul. et O. Sǎvul. and Erysiphe heraclei DC. ex Saint-Aman causing Septoria blight, downy mildew and powdery mildew

A collection of 220 accessions of parsley (Petroselinum crispum [Mill.] Nyman) was evaluated at two experimental stations (Gatersleben and Quedlinburg, Germany) under natural infection. Widespread origins of tested accessions provide the opportunity for first-time characterization of existence, spreading and level of resistance/susceptibility to the economically important pathogens Septoria petroselini Desm., Plasmopara petroselini Sǎvul. et O. Sǎvul. and Erysipheheraclei DC. ex Saint-Aman causing Septoria blight, downy mildew and powdery mildew respectively throughout the species P. crispum. For each pathogen, accessions free or nearly free of symptoms were found: S. petroselini: free 1, nearly free 25, P. petroselini: free 51, nearly free 22 and E. heraclei: free 166. Eight accessions are free or nearly free of symptoms for all three pathogens: PET36, PET169, PET172, PET177, PET178, PET192, PET212 and PET214. The accession PET16 is free of symptoms for both S. petroselini and P. petroselini. Most of the resistant material comes from Southern and Eastern Europe. There could be a centre for resistances of parsley. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.