The southern root-knot nematode [Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood] is a major pest of bell peppers, and the principal control method at present is soil fumigation with methyl bromide. The southern root-knot nematode is one of the major reasons why peppers account for almost 12% of the preplant methyl bromide utilization in the United States. The ideal solution to this bell pepper pest problem would be the use of resistant cultivars, but none of the commercial cultivars currently available to U.S. growers exhibits an adequate level of resistance. Scientists at the USDA, ARS, U.S.Vegetable Laboratory recognized the need for resistant bell pepper cultivars in the early 1980's, and initiated a breeding program to make them a reality. Their efforts were brought to a successful conclusion earlier this year with the release of the two cultivars, 'Charleston Belle' and 'Carolina Wonder'.

'Charleston Belle' and 'Carolina Wonder' are both products of a conventional recurrent backcrossing procedure to transfer the dominant N gene for root-knot nematode resistance from 'Mississippi Nemaheart' into well adapted, commercial-type bell pepper germplasm. 'Charleston Belle' is the result of efforts to incorporate the N gene into a 'Keystone Resistant Giant' background, and 'Carolina Wonder' is the result of efforts to incorporate the gene into a 'Yolo Wonder B' background. Both 'Charleston Belle' and 'Carolina Wonder' originated from bulked F₃ populations derived from the sixth backcross.

'Charleston Belle' and 'Carolina Wonder' are similar in appearance and maturity to their respective recurrent parents, 'Keystone Resistant Giant' and 'Yolo Wonder B'. The plants of the new cultivars have compact growth habits and the period from transplanting to first harvest ranges from 63 to 70 days. The results of field experiments conducted at Charleston, SC, indicated that the fruit and yield characteristics of the new cultivars were virtually identical to those of their recurrent parents.

Both of the new cultivars are homozygous for the N gene that conditions a high level of resistance to the southern root-knot nematode. The new cultivars have exhibited high levels of resistance in all greenhouse and field tests; the numbers of galls and egg masses on the roots have always been minimal. The results of 1996 tests conducted in greenhouse soil benches infested with M. incognita race 3 showed that 'Charleston Belle' roots yielded 93% fewer M. incognita eggs per gram than did roots of 'Keystone Resistant Giant'; roots of 'Carolina Wonder' yielded 95% fewer eggs than did roots of 'Yolo Wonder B'. The southern root-knot nematode resistant 'Charleston Belle' and 'Carolina Wonder' are recommended for use by both home gardeners and commercial growers. They are recommended particularly as home garden cultivars because home gardeners do not have easy access to alternative production sites or the needed nematicides and nematicide application equipment. Since the gene conditioning the root-knot nematode resistance trait is dominant, both of the new cultivars are potentially valuable parental lines for developing other root-knot nematode resistant hybrid bell cultivars. Both of the new cultivars should perform well in all areas where their recurrent parents have been grown successfully.

'Charleston Belle' and 'Carolina Wonder' breeder's seeds have been released to seed producers. Small, trial samples of breeder's seed are available for distribution to all interested research personnel. Address all requests for seed to Richard L. Fery, U. S. Vegetable Laboratory, 2875 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29424-5334. Genetic material of these releases will be deposited in the National Plant Germplasm System where it will be available for research purposes, including the development of new cultivars.